Sten Olsson
Sten Olsson
Sten Olsson is Head of the firm’s M&A Group. He is recognised as one of the leaders in mergers and acquisitions in Finland and has been involved in some of the most significant transactions in Finland and Sweden.
Dual-qualified as a Finnish and New York attorney, Sten practiced for several years at international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton’s LLP’s New York and London offices and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2001. Prior to that, he worked at Mannheimer Swartling’s private equity department in Stockholm. Sten has also worked with financial and legal matters at the European Investment Fund’s venture capital and buyout division in Luxembourg.
Sten serves on boards of various companies and non-profit organizations.
Reads the situation very well and is a strong negotiator.
Commercial, Corporate & M&A | Legal 500, 2021
References
Parties
Varjo Technologies Oy, several new and existing investors including Volvo Car Tech Fund, EQT Ventures, Atomico, Mirabaud and Foxconn.
Transaction
Counsel to Volvo Car Tech Fund and certain other lead investors in Varjo Technologies Oy’s EUR 41 million funding round.
Deal Value
EUR 41 million
Role
Counsel to Volvo Car Tech Fund and certain other lead investors
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Niclas Ruotsalainen
Parties
Remeo Holding II Oy (buyer), Delete Finland Oy (seller), Delete Ympäristöpalvelut Oy (target)
Transaction
Counsel to Remeo in its acquisition of Delete Ympäristöpalvelut Oy, a Finland-based environmental and recycling services provider.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Remeo
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Juha Ellonen
Klaus Metsä-Simola
Kerttu Pahta
Pauliina Sutinen
Ida Viitamäki
Parties
Huuva Oy, several new and existing investors including General Catalyst Group and Lifeline Ventures.
Transaction
Counsel to Huuva Oy, a Helsinki-based food delivery company, on its EUR 5 million financing round.
Deal Value
EUR 5 million
Role
Counsel to Huuva Oy
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Niclas Ruotsalainen
Parties
Blossom Capital (lead investor), Maki.vc, Brightly Ventures and other co-investors, Zevoy Aktiebolag (target).
Transaction
Counsel to the lead investor Blossom Capital in the EUR 15 million series A funding round of Zevoy Aktiebolag, a Finland-based expense management solutions provider.
Deal Value
EUR 15 million
Role
Counsel to Blossom Capital
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Niclas Ruotsalainen
Parties
IK Partners (Buyer), Intera Fund II Ky, Intera Fund III Ky, management and other minority shareholders (Sellers), Renta Group Oy (Target)
Transaction
Intera Partners’ sale of Renta Group Oy to IK Partners
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Intera Partners
Sten Olsson
Roosa Väre
Mikael Byman
Niclas Ruotsalainen
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Sami Niemi
Pauliina Sutinen
Risto Ojakoski
Jesper Nevalainen
Wilhelm Sanmark
Mikko Huimala
Susanna Kyllöinen
Claes Kjellberg
Douglas Essehorn
Alexander Lindqvist
Josephine Lindgren
Olof Östman
Amanda Alexandersson
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
Mindray (Buyer), HyTest Invest Oy (Target), Summa Equity and other shareholders (Sellers).
Transaction
Sale of HyTest, a Finland-based leading developer and producer of high-performance antibodies and antigens, to Mindray, a leading global medical technology company.
Deal Value
Estimated approx. EUR 545 million.
Role
Finnish counsel to Mindray
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Heidi Haanpää
Agda Vähä-Piikkiö
Parties
Assemblin, Tom Allen Senera
Transaction
Counsel to Assemblin in its acquisition of Tom Allen Senera, a Finland-based systems supplier of energy solutions to properties.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Assemblin
Sten Olsson
Klaus Metsä-Simola
Emmi Kantola
Sami Niemi
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Risto Ojakoski
Parties
Infinited Fiber Company Oy, several new and existing investors including H&M Group, Adidas, Invest FWD A/S, Security Trading Oy, Nidoco AB, and Sateri.
Transaction
Counsel to Infinited Fiber Company Oy, a Finland-based circular fashion and textile technology company, on its EUR 30 million financing round.
Deal Value
EUR 30 million
Role
Counsel to Infinited Fiber Company Oy
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
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
Parties
Mayr-Melnhof Cartonboard International GmbH, Kotkamills Group Oyj
Transaction
Mayr-Melnhof Cartonboard International GmbH's acquisition of Kotkamills Group Oyj
Deal Value
Approx. EUR 425 million
Role
Counsel to Mayr-Melnhof Cartonboard International GmbH
Sten Olsson
Roosa Väre
Sami Niemi
Mikko Huimala
Klaus Metsä-Simola
Laura Sainio
Noora Britschgi
Parties
Supermetrics Oy, Highland Europe LLP, IVP, Open Ocean
Transaction
Counsel to Supermetrics Oy, a Finland-based global leader in data integration, on its EUR 40 million Series B investment round.
Deal Value
EUR 40 million
Role
Counsel to Supermetrics Oy
Sten Olsson
Emmi Kantola
Parties
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (Buyer), Shareholders of Blueprint Oy (Sellers), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Target)
Transaction
The sale of Blueprint Genetics’ entire share capital to Quest Diagnostics
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Blueprint Genetics and its owners
Sten Olsson
Roosa Väre
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Jenni Parviainen
Parties
Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners, Providence Equity Partners
Transaction
Counsel to Smartly.io and its owners in the sale of a majority stake to Providence Equity Partners
Deal Value
EUR 200 million
Role
Counsel to Smartly.io Solutions Oy and its owners
Sten Olsson
Annika Schauman
Emmi Kantola
Jesper Nevalainen
Jenni Parviainen
Parties
EQT Fund VIII (Buyer), Agilitas Private Equity and other shareholders (Sellers), Recover Nordic (Target)
Transaction
EQT’s acquisition of Recover Nordic
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Finnish counsel to EQT Fund VIII
Sten Olsson
Annika Schauman
Mikael Lustig
Heidi Kärki
Counsel to DevCo in the establishment of a €180m investment fund structure, 2019
Sten Olsson
Ida Viitamäki
Parties
Sentica Partners (Seller), Adelis Equity Partners (Buyer), Ropo Capital (Target)
Transaction
Sale of Ropo Capital
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Sentica Partners
Sten Olsson
Ida Viitamäki
Matias Moberg
Mikael Lustig
Parties
Francisco Partners & SmartBear Software Inc. (Buyers), Bitbar Technologies Oy (Target)
Transaction
SmartBear's acquisition of Bitbar Technologies
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Francisco Partners backed SmartBear
Sten Olsson
Annika Schauman
Emmi Kantola
Jesper Nevalainen
Parties
Vaaka Partners, Lyyti
Transaction
Vaaka Partners' acquisition of Lyyti
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Vaaka Partners
Sten Olsson
Mikael Lustig
Emmi Kantola
Senni Kinnaslampi
Heidi Kärki
Parties
YIT Corporation, Ålandsbanken
Transaction
YIT and Ålandsbanken entered into an agreement to establish a joint venture company for housing investments
Deal Value
EUR 112 million
Role
Counsel to YIT Corporation
Tapio Teräkivi
Sten Olsson
Parties
Nordic Healthcare Group Oy, Vaaka Partners Oy
Transaction
Vaaka Partner's investment in Nordic Healthcare Group
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Vaaka Partners
Sten Olsson
Heikki Vesikansa
Harri Vehviläinen
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Mikael Lustig
Matias Moberg
Parties
Hartwall Capital Oy Ab (Buyer), LeaseGreen (Target)
Transaction
Hartwall Capital's acquisition of LeaseGreen
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Hartwall Capital Oy Ab
Sten Olsson
Parties
Apax Digital Fund (Buyer), Vaaka Partners (Seller), Solita Oy (Target)
Transaction
Vaaka Partners' sale of Solita Oy to Apax Digital Fund
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Vaaka Partners
Sten Olsson
Roosa Väre
Parties
DevCo Partners Oy, Medix Biochemica
Transaction
DevCo Partners Oy's acquisition of Medix Biochemica
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to DevCo Partners Oy
Sten Olsson
Parties
Suomen Terveystalo Oy
Transaction
Terveystalo’s IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange
Deal Value
The offering by the company and its shareholders was over EUR 870 million and the Company’s market value was over EUR 1.2 billion
Role
Counsel to Terveystalo
Klaus Ilmonen
Sten Olsson
Sonja Siggberg
Anniina Järvinen
Antti Kuha
Ella Hiltunen
Elina Toivakainen
Markus Bremer
Matias Moberg
Annemari Rosi
Parties
Vaaka Partners (Buyer), management and minority shareholders (Sellers), Smoothie Heaven Oy (Target)
Transaction
Vaaka Partners acquired majority of shares in Smoothie Heaven Oy, a juice and smoothie bar company known as Jungle Juice Bar, from management and minority shareholders
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Vaaka Partners
Sten Olsson
Heikki Vesikansa
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Mikael Lustig
Parties
Wise Group (Buyer), Management and minority shareholders (Sellers), Sito Oy (Target)
Transaction
Combination of Wise Group and Sito Oy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Wise Group
Sten Olsson
Markus Bremer
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Parties
Trust Kapital (Buyer); Enfo Oyj (Seller); Enfo Zender (Target)
Transaction
Sentica’s portfolio company Trust Kapital's acquisition of Enfo Zender, Enfo Oyj’s information logistics subsidiary
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Trust Kapital
Sten Olsson
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Parties
Terveystalo, Diacor
Transaction
Terveystalo's acquisition of Diacor
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Terveystalo
Sten Olsson
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Parties
Intera Fund III Ky (Buyer), Management and minority shareholders (Sellers), Wise Group Finland Oy (Target)s
Transaction
Intera’s acquisition of majority ownership in Wise Group Finland Oy from the management and minority shareholders
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Intera
Sten Olsson
Markus Bremer
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Parties
Hartwall Capital Oy Ab (Buyer), SUEZ Suomi Oy (Target)
Transaction
Hartwall Capital Oy Ab's acquisition of SUEZ Suomi Oy, comprising the Finnish operations of SUEZ Group
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Hartwall Capital Oy Ab
Sten Olsson
Markus Bremer
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Klaus Metsä-Simola
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Parties
DevCo Partners Oy’s group of investors (Buyers); Vexve Oy (Target); Partnos Oy (Seller)
Transaction
DevCo Partners Oy’s acquisition of Vexve Oy from Partnos Oy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to DevCo Partners Oy
Sten Olsson
Markus Bremer
Parties
Infratek, Pohjolan Werkonrakennus Oy
Transaction
Infratek's acquisition of Pohjolan Werkonrakennus Oy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Infratek
Sten Olsson
Parties
Ruokakesko Oy (Buyer), Triton (Seller), Suomen Lähikauppa Oy (Target)
Transaction
Triton's sale of Suomen Lähikauppa Oy to Ruokakesko Oy, a subsidiary of Kesko Corporation
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Triton
Sten Olsson
Heidi Haanpää
Parties
Sentica Partners and a number of private individuals (Sellers), Humana AB (Buyer), Arjessa Oy (Target)
Transaction
Sentica Partners and a number of private individuals sold the leading Finnish psychosocial care provider to Humana AB
Deal Value
EUR 32 million (EV)
Role
Counsel to Humana AB
Sten Olsson
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Marta Kauppinen
Parties
Triton, Fläkt Woods
Transaction
Triton's acquisition of Fläkt Woods
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Triton
Sten Olsson
Heidi Haanpää
Parties
Cor Group Oy, Industry Investment, Norvestia Plc and acting management (Sellers), EQT MidMarket Limited Partnership (Buyer), Touhula Varhaiskasvatus Oy (Target)
Transaction
Cor Group Oy, Industry Investment, Norvestia Plc and acting management sold the leading Finnish private day care provider Touhula Varhaiskasvatus Oy to EQT MidMarket Limited Partnership.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to EQT
Sten Olsson
Markus Bremer
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Parties
Metso Oyj (Seller) and Valmet Oyj (Buyer)
Transaction
Valmet Oyj’s acquisition of the process automation systems business from Metso Oyj
Deal Value
EUR 340 million
Role
Counsel to Valmet Oyj
Johan Aalto
Sten Olsson
Heidi Haanpää
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
State of Finland (Buyer), Gazprom (Seller), Gasum (Target)
Transaction
Counsel to the State of Finland in the acquisition of Gazprom’s shares in Gasum
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to the State of Finland
Sten Olsson
Heidi Haanpää
Rankings
- "Sten Olsson is a pleasure to work with. He is always available and skilful at finding the necessary resources for us.", Commercial, corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2022
- "Sten Olsson reads the situation very well and is a strong negotiator.", Commercial, corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2021
- 'Clients praise Sten Olsson for being "very experienced in private equity issues and good with people on both sides."', Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2021
- Leading individual, Commercial, corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2014-2022
- 'Sources describe Sten Olsson as "very intelligent" and a "skilled negotiator," and highlight his ability to "identify important issues."', Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2020
- "Clients describe him as an 'excellent M&A lawyer with vast experience and good commercial judgement.'" Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global 2019
- "Sten Olsson is ‘a skilled negotiator’; ‘probably the best M&A lawyers in Finland’ according to one client", Commercial, corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2018
- "One client highlights that 'he makes clear and concrete recommendations which take commercial perspectives into account.'", Corporate and M&A, Chambers Global 2018 and Chambers Europe 2018
- “Excellent senior lawyer with strong communication and technical skills and ability to develop trusting long-term relationships." IFLR1000 2018
- Ranked as being among the world’s leading M&A and Governance lawyers, Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance 2019
- Ranked as a Highly regarded lawyer in Capital Markets in the 2019-2021 editions of IFLR1000
- Winner of the Client Choice Awards for Mergers & Acquisitions Finland, 2017
- "According to clients, Sten Olsson 'has very good negotiation skills and is good with people.'", Corporate and M&A, Chambers Global 2017 and Chambers Europe 2017
- Ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Capital Markets in the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 editions of IFLR1000
- Ranked among the best lawyers in Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity and Investment Funds in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of Best Lawyers®
- "Sten Olsson is well regarded for his work in industrial and private equity-related M&A. Clients offer strong praise: 'He is one of the few lawyers in Finland who combines commercial, pragmatic judgement with legal knowledge,' and 'He is skilful and experienced – his negotiation skills are such that a solution or compromise will always be found.'", Chambers Global
- “Sten delivers legal advice that is exceptional and aligned with the commercial targets of his client; he manages to get the deal done”, ILO Client Choice 2017
- “He is an expert within his field; a true business partner”, ILO Client Choice 2017
- “Sten is an effective communicator; he is always clear and responsive”, ILO Client Choice 2017
- “Sten has a business-oriented approach; he offers practical advice that exceeds the standard level of service”, ILO Client Choice 2017
- "Department head Sten Olsson regularly advises leading private equity houses... One client comments: 'If you need a lawyer to drive the deal forward, go to Sten. He is well connected with lots of experience and is very commercial' ", Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe
- "Sten Olsson is noted as having 'a good balance between being thorough and being fast, with the ability to support us in making commercial judgements.' " Corporate and M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe
- “Market leader Hannes Snellman has nine dedicated M&A partners led by Sten Olsson. Its illustrious client base includes domestic and foreign private equity sponsors, multinational corporations, and Nordic private and public companies.” Legal 500
- “There is unanimous consent among peers that the 'large and experienced' M&A team, led by Sten Olsson, ranks among the very best in Finland.”, IFLR
- “practice head Sten Olsson is well respected”, Chambers Europe
- ‘Sten Olsson..., who comes highly praised by peers...’, Chambers Global
- “Sten Olsson led teams on many of the firm’s top deals”, IFLR
- ‘...a wealth of experience that is arguably ‘better than the rest’, particularly in the form of Mikko Heinonen, Sten Olsson and Johan Aalto.’, IFLR
Education and Professional Background
- European Investment Fund, Luxembourg, 2004-2006
- Debevoise & Plimpton, New York and London, 2001-2004
- Mannheimer Swartling, Stockholm, 1999-2000
- LLM, UC Berkeley and New York University, 2000 (Fulbright Scholarship)
- Master of Laws, Helsinki University, 1999
- Member of the New York Bar and Finnish Bar Association
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