State Aid & Competitive Neutrality

State Aid & Competitive Neutrality

We help to ensure a level playing field on the market in situations where private and public service production compete or public funds are used.

Whenever the public sector plans to support businesses, state aid rules must be taken into account. We have particular experience in a wide range of state aid cases, including public funding and cooperation arrangements. Our skilled experts can provide support in diverse issues, such as industrial policy projects, real estate and construction projects and sale and purchase of public property.

Analysis and Counselling
Disputes on national and EU level
Notifications and complaints to the European Commission
Competition and Consumer Authority Proceedings on competitive neutrality
Training

Latest references

UFF – Change from Association into Foundation

We assisted the association U-landshjälp från Folk till Folk i Finland rf in a reorganisation of its activities. The association, which is to be dissolved, established a foundation to continue the association’s operations. The transformation of the association into a foundation ensures that the association can continue its activities without altering its original purpose and sustainably support climate work and global development in the future. In the reorganisation, the association transferred its assets and liabilities and operations to the newly established foundation in their entirety. The association’s personnel also transferred to the foundation as existing employees. In the final stage of the reorganisation, the association will be dissolved. U-landshjälp från Folk till Folk i Finland sr will continue to be known by its familiar acronym UFF in the future. The former association will continue to promote the public good as a foundation by maintaining a recycling service in Finland and supporting development work in Africa and India. Through the recycling of clothes, UFF aims to bring about sustainable development that reduces extreme poverty in the world. UFF supports education, food security and income-earning opportunities in Africa and India. It also brings Finns into contact with sustainable development and the affairs of the developing world. In addition to the collection of clothes and donations, the foundation’s activities are made possible by state aid granted by Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the support of the European Union. Virve Groning, UFF sr’s Managing Director: ‘The reorganisation has been a unique moment in UFF’s history. Our objectives were to strengthen the conditions for our future activities and to ensure the continuity of the organisation’s original missions: to support climate work and global development for sustainability. Thanks to Castrén & Snellman’s comprehensive expertise, we have been able to ensure that all the necessary aspects are covered in the reorganisation. By overseeing the change process in a careful and proactive way, we achieved reliable continuity for our practical service work in society, both for our climate service in Finland and our global development programme.’

G&W Electric – Acquisition of Safegrid

We advised G&W Electric with its acquisition of Safegrid Oy, a leading provider of intelligent grid monitoring solutions based in Finland. The acquisition accelerates G&W Electric’s long-term strategy to integrate intelligent monitoring and predictive analytics into its power distribution portfolio, strengthening its offering to utility customers worldwide. Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, G&W Electric is a global leader in innovative power grid solutions, with a presence in over 100 countries. The company is known for advanced load and fault interrupting switches, reclosers, sensors, system protection equipment, power grid automation, intelligent grid monitoring, and transmission and distribution cable accessories. Safegrid is a Finnish technology company headquartered in Espoo, Finland. The company develops the Intelligent Grid System®, a grid monitoring solution that combines instant-on wireless sensors with advanced analytics to deliver real-time insight into grid conditions, enabling utilities to identify emerging issues, anticipate failures, and reduce outage duration across medium and high voltage distribution and transmission networks.

Kiwa – Acquisition of Sertio

We advised Kiwa in its acquisition of Sertio Oy, a Finnish notified body designated by the authority in accordance with the EU Regulation on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR). Sertio provides conformity assessment services in accordance with IVDR. Kiwa is one of the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification companies, operating in over 35 countries.

Metsäkonepalvelu – Acquisition of Junnonen Forest and the business operations of Lamerit

We advised Metsäkonepalvelu Oy in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Junnonen Forest Oy, a Finnish timber harvesting services company, and the timber harvesting services business of Lamerit Oy. The acquisition supports Metsäkonepalvelu’s growth strategy and strengthens the company’s position, particularly in southeastern Finland. Metsäkonepalvelu is a portfolio company of A. Ahlström Oy, a Finnish family-owned industrial owner. The company provides mechanical timber harvesting services to forest companies, large private forest owners, and the public sector in Finland and Sweden. Metsäkonepalvelu Group employs nearly two hundred forestry professionals.

Latest insights

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