Heikki Vesikansa
Heikki Vesikansa
Heikki heads our Tax practice in Helsinki, and he advises our clients on transaction tax structuring and tax planning as well as tax litigation engagements. He frequently acts as a trusted advisor, particularly in cases involving complex international and cross-border tax elements. Heikki has received recognition especially for his tax technical skills and service-oriented approach in major surveys by Chambers, Legal500, and International Tax Review.
Heikki’s wide experience in the area of transaction structuring stems from providing tax advice in over 500 transactions over the past 20 years. He also frequently defends clients' tax positions in courts – recently, in the Finnish Supreme Administrative Court, Heikki has provided advice in several successful high-profile tax cases which have resulted in important case law precedents in Finnish tax law. Heikki works with a wide range of clients, including publicly listed companies, real estate and private equity investors, family-owned businesses, and private clients.
Heikki Vesikansa has good and broad understanding of tax matters, I would highly recommend his services.
Corporate Tax | Client Choice 2022
References
Parties:
Uponor Corporation (target), Georg Fischer Ltd (buyer)
Transaction:
Counsel to Uponor Corporation in the recommended public cash tender offer by Georg Fischer Ltd to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Uponor Corporation.
Value:
EUR 2.1 billion
Role:
Counsel to Uponor Corporation

Mikko Heinonen

Klaus Ilmonen

Sonja Siggberg

Aki Salmela

Jon Termonen

Viola Karjalainen

Roope Sevón

Wilma Montonen

Mikko Huimala

Päivi Tammilehto

Helena Lamminen

Essi Ellman

Sofia Saarelainen

Annika Grönholm

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Isabella Kartila

Tuomas Toivonen

Melisa Göllü

Janika Vallila

Monika Parkkinen

Anni Nohteri
Parties:
Myrsky Energia, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP)
Transaction:
Counsel to Myrsky Energia in the formation of a joint venture with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) concerning the investment and development of 1.8 GW portfolio of onshore wind power in Finland.
Value:
EUR 2.3 billion
Role:
Counsel to Myrsky Energia

Tapio Teräkivi

Maria Landtman

Heidi Haanpää

Markus Bremer

Heikki Vesikansa

Katja Heikkinen

Harri Vehviläinen

Marjaana Martikainen

Janne Veneranta

Valerie Wårvik

Tero Pikkarainen

Alisa Ainonen

Isabella Kartila

Otto Koskinen

Salla Mäki

Liisa Veckman

Nora Mansikka
Parties
Citycon Oyj
Transaction
Counsel to Citycon Oyj in its tender offers of outstanding notes due 2024 of Citycon Treasury B.V. and capital securities issued by it in November 2019 and June 2021.
Deal value
Over EUR 40 million
Role
Counsel to Citycon Oyj

Anniina Järvinen

Mikko Heinonen

Tommi Kovero

Sofi Lehtinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen
Parties
Sampo plc
Transaction
Counsel to Sampo plc on its dual listing of its Class A shares on Nasdaq Stockholm in the form of Swedish Depository Receipts
Deal Value
Market capitalisation of approximately EUR 24.7 billion as of 31 October 2022
Role
Counsel to Sampo plc

Mattias Friberg

Mikko Heinonen

Khaled Talayhan

Gabriella Fredlund

Anton Eriksson

Robert Gordin

Marcus Lehtinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Sofia Ampuja

Jari Tukiainen

Joel Montin
Parties
A consortium consisting of Security Trading, Fennogens Investments, Corbis, and Bain Capital (buyer), Caverion Oyj (Target)
Transaction
Counsel to the offeror consortium consisting of Security Trading, Fennogens Investments, Corbis, and Bain Capital in the recommended public cash tender offer for all shares in Caverion Oyj.
Deal value
EUR 955 million
Role
Counsel to the offeror consortium consisting of Security Trading, Fennogens Investments, Corbis, and Bain Capital

Mikko Heinonen

Klaus Ilmonen

Anniina Järvinen

Marcus Lehtinen

Aki Salmela

Tuire Kuronen

Riikka Kuha

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Ilmari Mäkimattila

Stefan Stellato

Helena Lamminen

Laura Sainio

Tuomas Toivonen
Parties:
Cargotec Corporation, Konecranes Plc
Transaction:
The announced, but subsequently abandoned, merger of Cargotec and Konecranes in 2021-2022
Deal value:
Approx. EUR 2.7 billion
Role:
Counsel to Konecranes Plc

Mikko Heinonen

Sonja Siggberg

Peter Forsberg

Mikko Huimala

Markus Bremer

Jenni Heurlin

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Ingrid Remmelgas

Matias Moberg

Riikka Kuha

Agda Vähä-Piikkiö

Linnea Lehtonen

Pauliina Sutinen

Jenni Parviainen

Heikki Vesikansa

Khaled Talayhan

Mattias Friberg

Marc Tevell de Falck

Sarah Ek
Parties
Orange Capital Partners (Buyer), Starwood Capital Group and Avara Oy (Sellers)
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Orange Capital Partners in the acquisition of a residential portfolio of 2,200 apartments located across 16 cities from Starwood Capital Group and Avara Oy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Orange Capital Partners

Tapio Teräkivi

Heikki Vesikansa

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Tuomas Koivuniemi

Jenni Parviainen

Janne Veneranta

Valerie Wårvik

Isabella Kartila

Noora Christiansen

Mikael Wood

Sofia Ampuja

Rauli Elenius

Alisa Ainonen

Paavo Romakkaniemi

Essi Peltoniemi

Anniina Somppi

Axel Hård af Segerstad

Veera Heiskanen

Viivi Vikberg

Salla Mäki

Tiia Mäki

Victoria Reiter

Liisa Veckman

Vivi Jaatinen

Janita Stenroos
Parties:
Duunitori Oy and its owners (seller), Intera Partners (buyer)
Transaction:
Counsel to Duunitori Oy and its owners in the sale of majority of Duunitori’s share capital to Intera Partners
Deal Value:
Value not public
Role:
Counsel to Duunitori Oy

Sten Olsson

Niclas Ruotsalainen

Mikael Byman

Axel Hård af Segerstad

Heikki Vesikansa

Ilmari Mäkimattila

Marta Kauppinen

Mikko Huimala

Stefan Stellato
Parties:
Esperi Care (target), Danske Bank, SEB, and Ilmarinen (majority owners), Triton (buyer)
Transaction:
Counsel to Esperi Care and its majority owners Danske Bank, SEB, and Ilmarinen in the acquisition of the majority of Esperi Care’s shares by Triton Smaller Mid Cap Fund II advised by Triton.
Deal Value:
Value not public.
Role:
Counsel to Esperi Care and its majority owners

Sten Olsson

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Annika Schauman

Tuomas Toivonen

Matias Moberg

Emmi Kantola

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato

Jenni Heurlin
Parties
Slättö Core Plus and PEAB
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as counsel to Slättö in the formation of a joint venture with PEAB regarding investments into residential housing in Finland.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Slättö Core Plus

Mikael Stabo

Tuuli Pikkarainen

Andreas Wingren

Paavo Romakkaniemi

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Piia Ahonen

Marika Sorsa

Isabella Kartila
Parties
Basware Corporation (target), a consortium consisting of Accel-KKR, Long Path Partners, and Briarwood Chase Management (buyer)
Transaction
Counsel to the offeror consortium of Accel-KKR, Long Path Partners, and Briarwood Chase Management in the tender offer for all outstanding securities in Basware Corporation.
Deal Value
EUR 620 million
Role
Counsel to the consortium

Klaus Ilmonen

Tommi Kovero

Aki Salmela

Robert Gordin

Joonas Vartia

Linnea Lehtonen

Roope Sevón

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Sofia Ampuja

Mikko Huimala

Markus Bremer

Pauliina Sutinen

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Anna Nyberg

Outi Jousi

Annika Tiitola

Axel Hård af Segerstad
Parties
Paulig Group (seller), Valio (buyer), Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function (target)
Transaction
The divestment of Paulig’s Gold&Green brand, intellectual property and R&D function to Valio
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Paulig Group

Riikka Rannikko

Agda Vähä-Piikkiö

Sofia Saarelainen

Panu Siitonen

Heikki Vesikansa

Isabella Kartila
Parties
Orange Capital Partners and another global investor (Buyers), Morgan Stanley (Seller)
Transaction
Orange Capital Partners' and another global investor's acquisition of a residential portfolio with 37 assets and 1,900 apartments from Morgan Stanley
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Orange Capital Partners and another global investor

Tapio Teräkivi

Heikki Vesikansa

Marjaana Martikainen

Jenni Parviainen

Janne Veneranta

Valerie Wårvik

Isabella Kartila

Noora Christiansen

Marika Sorsa

Minna Juhola

Mikael Wood

Sofia Ampuja

Julia Ranta

Anniina Somppi

Tiia Mäki

Salla Mäki

Janita Stenroos
Parties
Angel Pond Holdings Corporation, MariaDB Corporation Ab
Transaction
Combination of Angel Pond Holdings Corporation and MariaDB Corporation Ab by way of a domestication merger and cross-border merger, and related transactions
Deal Value
USD 672 million (implied enterprise value of the combined company)
Role
Finnish counsel to Angel Pond Holdings Corporation

Tuire Kuronen

Agda Vähä-Piikkiö

Heidi Haanpää

Susanna Purovirta

Oliver Vesterlund

Joonas Vartia

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Joakim Frände

Jesper Nevalainen

Liisa Vaaraniemi

Risto Ojakoski

Tuomas Toivonen

Hanna Lindberg
Parties
Smartly.io (Buyer), Ad-Lib.io (Target) and various sellers
Transaction
Acquisition of Ad-Lib.io, the next-generation creative optimization platform, by Smartly.io, the leading social advertising SaaS platform for creative and performance marketers.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Finnish counsel to Smartly.io

Sten Olsson

Emmi Kantola

Heikki Vesikansa

Isabella Kartila
Parties
Altia Plc, Arcus ASA
Transaction
Merger of Altia Plc and Arcus ASA to form Anora Group
Deal value
Preliminary aggregated annual revenue EUR 640 million
Role
Lead counsel to Altia Plc

Sonja Siggberg

Klaus Ilmonen

Anniina Järvinen

Robert Gordin

Ebba Almén

Mikko Huimala

Essi Ellman

Jenni Heurlin

Peter Forsberg

Sarah Ek

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Isabella Kartila

Markus Bremer

Tuomas Toivonen

Sami Niemi

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Risto Ojakoski

Jenny Lundberg

Josephine Gjerstad Medina

Panu Siitonen

Sarita Schröder
Counsel to a Finnish private equity fund in a Supreme Administrative Court Yearbook case confirming the correct application of equity ratio exemption in interest deduction limitations.

Stefan Stellato

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
Virala Acquisition Company Plc, Purmo Group Ltd
Transaction
Virala Acquisition Company Plc's merger with Purmo Group Ltd.
Deal Value
EUR 685 million
Role
Counsel to Virala Acquisition Company Plc

Sonja Siggberg

Anniina Järvinen

Linnea Lehtonen

Tommi Kovero

Tero Pikkarainen

Oliver Vesterlund

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato

Isabella Kartila

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Pauliina Sutinen

Axel Hård af Segerstad

Wilhelm Sanmark

Mikko Huimala

Jenni Heurlin

Douglas Essehorn

Emma Andersson
Parties
Quadoro Investment GmbH, EKE-Construction Ltd.
Transaction
Counsel to a fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH in an acquisition of an office property located in Espoo with a lettable area of approximately 4,200 square metres from the constructor EKE-Construction Ltd.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Quadoro Investment GmbH

Tapio Teräkivi

Heikki Vesikansa

Marjaana Martikainen

Julia Ranta

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen

Marika Sorsa

Isabella Kartila
Parties
Quadoro Investment GmbH, YIT Construction Ltd.
Transaction
Counsel to a fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH in an acquisition of a MEUR 32 office property located in Järvenpää with a lettable area of approximately 6,500 square metres from YIT Construction Ltd
Deal Value
EUR 32 million
Role
Counsel to Quadoro Investment GmbH

Juha Lindström

Heikki Vesikansa

Marjaana Martikainen

Julia Ranta

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen

Marika Sorsa

Isabella Kartila
Parties
Valmet, Neles
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as lead counsel to Valmet, a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries, in its merger with Neles, one of the leading providers of mission-critical flow control solutions and services for process industries in Finland.
Deal Value
The combined value of the merging companies is approximately EUR 7 billion.
Role
Lead counsel to Valmet

Johan Aalto

Klaus Ilmonen

Jon Termonen

Annemari Rosi

Aki Salmela

Sofi Lehtinen

Satu Kokko

Mikko Huimala

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Pauliina Sutinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Harri Vehviläinen
Parties
Virala Acquisition Company Plc
Transaction
Hannes Snellman acted as legal counsel to Virala Acquisition Company Plc on its IPO and the listing of its Class C shares on the SPAC segment of the regulated market of Nasdaq Helsinki
Deal Value
EUR 107.5 million
Role
Counsel to Virala Acquisition Company Plc

Sonja Siggberg

Anniina Järvinen

Sofi Lehtinen

Linnea Lehtonen

Tommi Kovero

Annemari Rosi

Aki Salmela

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato

Isabella Kartila

Piia Ahonen

Marika Sorsa

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Tuomas Toivonen

Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Counsel to a tax payer in Supreme Administrative Court Yearbook case confirming US GAAP as acceptable basis for transfer pricing.

Jenni Parviainen

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato
Parties
Amazon (Buyer), Umbra (Target)
Transaction
The acquisition of Umbra by Amazon.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Umbra

Sten Olsson

Emmi Kantola

Jesper Nevalainen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Joakim Frände

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Mikael Byman
Counsel in a Supreme Administrative Court Yearbook case clarifying taxation related to dividend in natura.

Jenni Parviainen

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (target), a consortium consisting of Ahlström Capital, Bain Capital Private Equity, Viknum and Belgrano Inversiones (buyer)
Transaction
Recommended public cash tender offer for all shares in Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj by Spa Holdings 3 Oy
Deal value
Approximately EUR 2.1 billion
Role
Counsel to the consortium

Johan Aalto

Sonja Siggberg

Mattias Friberg

Antti Kuha

Annemari Rosi

Khaled Talayhan

Robert Gordin

Heikki Vesikansa

Stefan Stellato

Harri Vehviläinen

Helena Lamminen

Laura Sainio

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Marc Tevell de Falck
Counsel to a taxpayer in the Supreme Administrative Court Yearbook case outlining VAT treatment of coworking services.

Piia Ahonen

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
A fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH
Transaction
Acquisition of Hermia 5 and Hermia 6 office properties located in the Hermia Science Park in Tampere with a lettable area of approximately 30,000 square metres
Deal value
Value not public
Hannes role
Counsel to a fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH
Hannes team
Tapio Teräkivi, Heikki Vesikansa, Markus Bremer, Marjaana Martikainen, Jenni Parviainen, Piia Ahonen, Meeri Karlsson, Ella Rinne, Panu Vikberg, Linda Launonen, and Viivi Rousku.

Tapio Teräkivi

Heikki Vesikansa

Markus Bremer

Marjaana Martikainen

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen

Panu Vikberg

Viivi Vikberg
Parties
City of Espoo, Kumppanuuskoulut Oy, YIT Oyj, Meridiam Investments II
Transaction
The City of Espoo signed a service agreement with Kumppanuuskoulut Oy on the implementation of five schools and three daycare centres
Deal Value
Approx. EUR 300 million
Role
Counsel to City of Espoo
Team
Rabbe Sittnikow, Jussi Ekonen, Janna Pihanurmi, Janne Veneranta, Roosa Väre, Markus Bremer, Maria Landtman, Samuli Pirinen, Heikki Vesikansa, Harri Vehviläinen, Piia Ahonen, Joakim Lavér

Rabbe Sittnikow

Janna Pihanurmi

Janne Veneranta

Roosa Väre

Markus Bremer

Maria Landtman

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Piia Ahonen

Joakim Lavér
Counsel in Administrative Court case confirming mutual real estate company’s taxation under Business Income Tax Act.

Jenni Parviainen

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
DWS (buyer), Regenero (Seller)
Transaction
DWS's acquisition of the Accountor Tower, a 24,000 sq. m. office development in Keilaniemi, Espoo, from YIT and HGR Property Partners’ joint venture Regenero
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to DWS

Tapio Teräkivi

Tuuli Pikkarainen

Panu Vikberg

Noora Britschgi

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen
Parties
Optomed Plc
Transaction
Optomed’s IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange
Deal Value
The offering by the company and its shareholders amounted to approximately EUR 44 million
Role
Counsel to Optomed Plc

Klaus Ilmonen

Mattias Friberg

Heidi Haanpää

Anniina Järvinen

Antti Kuha

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Khaled Talayhan

Marcus Lehtinen

Linnea Lehtonen

Pauliina Sutinen

Stefan Stellato
Parties
FSN Capital, eCraft, Orango, Fellowmind
Transaction
Fellowmind, eCraft and Orango merge to create European Microsoft Business Applications platform
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to eCraft and its owners

Mikko Heinonen

Heikki Vesikansa
Counsel in Supreme Administrative Court case confirming equal treatment of a Swedish real estate investor in Finnish taxation

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Stefan Stellato
Parties
Outotec Oyj, Metso Corporation
Transaction
The combination of Outotec and Metso Minerals through a demerger
Deal Value
EUR 3.9 billion (illustrative combined sales)
Role
Counsel to Outotec Oyj

Mikko Heinonen

Klaus Ilmonen

Markus Bremer

Peter Forsberg

Anna-Maria Tamminen

Heikki Vesikansa

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Elina Toivakainen

Jenni Parviainen

Annemari Rosi

Emmi Kantola

Stefan Stellato

Maria Landtman

Sarah Ek

Nathalie Miskin

Victor Bjerselius
Counsel in Supreme Administrative Court case confirming that Refinancing of real estate company’s bank loans is not subject to transfer tax.

Heikki Vesikansa
Counsel in Supreme Administrative Court case confirming real estate investor’s right to deduct VAT on transaction expenses

Heikki Vesikansa

Piia Ahonen
Counsel in Supreme Administrative Court case confirming that share transfer tax is not due on purchase price of shareholder loans

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (Buyer), shareholders of Pro Farm Technologies Oy (Sellers), Pro Farm Technologies Oy (Target)
Transaction
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., an international leader in sustainable bioprotection and plant health solutions, acquired Pro Farm Technologies Oy, a Finnish agriculture technology company supplying nutrient and biostimulant technology and products
Deal Value
USD 31.8 million
Role
Counsel to Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.

Tuire Kuronen

Riikka Kuha

Tero Pikkarainen

Antti Nyberg (Alanko)

Matias Moberg

Pauliina Sutinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Panu Siitonen

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Heidi Kärki

Klaus Metsä-Simola

Noora Britschgi
Parties
Peab AB (Buyer), YIT Corporation (Seller), YIT’s Nordic paving and mineral aggregates businesses (Targets)
Transaction
YIT’s sale of its Nordic paving and mineral aggregates businesses in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark to Peab
Deal Value
EUR 280 million
Role
Counsel to YIT Corporation

Mikko Heinonen

Jesper Nevalainen

Klaus Metsä-Simola

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Markus Bremer

Emmi Kantola

Johanna Haltia-Tapio

Klaara Lähteenoja

Jenny Lundberg

Janna Pihanurmi
Counsel to a taxpayer receiving confirmation that a transfer of a business at an early stage qualifies as a transfer of a going concern for VAT purposes.

Piia Ahonen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen
Parties
Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Kesko Corporation, Kesko Pension Fund, Kruunuvuoren Satama Oy
Transaction
A series of transactions, whereby Ilmarinen, Kesko, and Kesko Pension Fund, among other things, dissolve their joint ownership of Kruunuvuoren Satama and Ilmarinen acquires all 3,438,885 Kesko A shares held by Kruunuvuoren Satama.
Deal Value
EUR 164 million
Role
Counsel to Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Kesko Corporation, Kesko Pension Fund, and Kruunuvuoren Satama Oy

Tuire Kuronen

Klaus Ilmonen

Mikko Heinonen

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Mikko Huimala

Tero Pikkarainen
Parties
Funds managed by Sentica Partners Oy (Buyer), Mikael Swanljung and his family (Sellers), Picnic Finland Oy, Europicnic Oy and La Torrefazione Oy (Targets)
Transaction
Sentica Partners’ acquisition of majority ownership in Picnic Company Group from Mikael Swanljung and his family
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Mikael Swanljung and his family

Mikko Heinonen

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
Precast Holding Oy (Buyer), Elematic HoldCo Oy (Seller), Elematic Oyj (Target), Nordic Trustee (as bonds trustee appointed by Elematic’s
Transaction
Restructuring of ownership and financing structure of Elematic Oyj
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Nordic Trustee

Heidi Haanpää

Henrik Mattson

Heikki Vesikansa
