Author: Elina Härkönen

Kesälahden Maansiirto gains additional resources to support further growth as Intera Partners invests in the company. Of the current owners who are actively involved in the business, Jarmo and Juha Karjalainen continue as owners and employees of the company.

“We see the infrastructure market as an attractive sector and our goal is to continue profitable growth in selected segments. Kesälahden Maansiirto is a well-respected company and its competent personnel has grown the business to its current revenue level of 80 million. Earlier in the spring we invested in Fin-Seula, a company with expertise in foundation and rail construction. Going forward, we aim to strengthen the cooperation between the two companies,” says Janne Näränen, Partner at Intera.

”Quality standards are constantly increasing in our industry,” comments Seppo Huttunen, CEO of Kesälahden Maansiirto. “Through this transaction, we can serve our customers even better than before and deliver larger projects. The cooperation with Fin-Seula and its subsidiary KFS Finland will bring new solutions to our customers, for example in foundation construction. In addition, the transaction will create new development opportunities for our competent personnel.”

Seppo Huttunen will continue as CEO of Kesälahden Maansiirto and the transaction will not have an impact on the personnel. Kesälahden Maansiirto’s sister companies Kesälahden Rakennus Oy and Kereli Oy are not part of the transaction perimeter.

The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the competition authorities.

Further information:
Seppo Huttunen, Kesälahden Maansiirto, CEO, +358 40 579 2640, seppo.huttunen@kms.fi
Janne Näränen, Intera Partners, Partner, +358 50 566 4869, janne.naranen@interapartners.fi
www.kesalahdenmaansiirto.fi and www.interapartners.fi

Kesälahden Maansiirto Oy
Kesälahden Maansiirto ranks in size among the top-10 Finnish infrastructure contracting companies. The company has over four decades of experience in demanding infrastructure projects in bridge and industrial construction, earth construction and environmental construction. The company’s customers include both the public sector and private companies. Net sales grew profitably to approximately 80 m€ in 2013. Kesälahden Maansiirto has locations in Kesälahti, Lappeenranta and Mäntsälä and the company operates throughout the country.

Fin-Seula Oy
Fin-Seula Oy is an infrastructure contractor specializing in turn-key deliveries. The company’s customers include both public and private sector clients. The company’s offering includes foundation and concrete construction as well as traffic network construction. Additionally, Fin-Seula is a shareholder in KFS Finland Oy which offers special foundation services such as stabilization. Combined sales of Fin-Seula and KFS Finland were over 50 m€ in 2013. Intera became a shareholder in Fin-Seula in March 2014.

Intera Partners invests in Fin-Seula, a Finnish infrastructure contractor. Fin-Seula’s founders Mika Kari and Seppo Valtonen will continue in their current roles and they will also remain significant owners of the company.

CEO Mika Kari comments on Intera’s role from the owners’ perspective: “Intera’s support will enable growing of Fin-Seula’s business significantly. We plan to expand the company’s service offering, maintain our excellent track record in delivery time and quality as well as grow the company into the next size class.

”We see the 8 billion euro infrastructure construction market as an interesting sector, where there is a lot of room for a nimble player. Fin-Seula’s owners have determinedly grown the company into one of the leading mid-sized players and they are committed to continue this growth together with Intera,” Janne Näränen, Partner at Intera explains the rationale behind the transaction.

“The company’s operating model, where a strong focus is put on developing and maintaining talent is well in line with Intera’s way of thinking. We believe that we can continue to offer interesting opportunities for the best talent in the industry also in the future.”

The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the competition authorities.

For further information, please contact:
Mika Kari, Fin-Seula Oy, CEO, +358 400 662 712, mika.kari@finseula.fi
Janne Näränen, Intera Partners Oy, Partner, +358 50 566 4869, janne.naranen@interapartners.fi
www.finseula.fi and www.interapartners.fi

Fin-Seula Oy
Fin-Seula Oy is a Finnish infrastructure contractor that is specialized in turn-key deliveries. The company’s customers include both public and private sector clients. The company’s offering includes foundation and concrete construction as well as traffic network construction. Additionally, Fin-Seula is a shareholder in KFS Finland Oy which offers special foundation services such as stabilization. The two companies combined sales in 2013 were over 50 million euros.

Delete Group Oy, a leading environmental services provider for the industrial, construction and real estate sectors in Finland, Sweden and the Baltics, has been acquired by Nordic private equity investor Axcel and Delete’s management. In connection with the transaction Intera divests the holding in Delete. The transaction was completed on 30 August 2013.

Intera, together with the entrepreneurs, founded the company in 2010 through a merger of two leading environmental services companies, Toivonen Yhtiöt and Tehoc. The company has grown significantly both organically and through acquisitions and has reached annual revenue of around EUR 100 million.

“During Intera’s ownership, Delete was developed into a leading environmental services provider in Finland and northern Sweden. Investment has been successful and we reached our growth targets ahead of the plan, and it is a convenient phase for Intera to divest its holding. Delete is well-positioned to continue to grow in the Nordics under the new ownership,” states Janne Näränen of Intera Partners.

“Delete has grown rapidly over the past three years and we have expanded our product portfolio, customer base and branch network. The new owner provides additional resources to grow in the Nordics,” comments Delete’s CEO Jussi Niemelä.

Further information:
Janne Näränen, Intera Partners
Tel. +358 50 566 4869
janne.naranen@interapartners.fi

Delete
Delete specialises in environmental services for industry, construction and real estate clients in Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic states. The company’s services include industrial cleaning services, heavy and special demolition services as well as recycling and waste management services. Delete employs nearly 700 environmental services professionals and the pro forma turnover of the business in 2012 amounted to approximately EUR 100 million.

Axcel
Axcel was founded in 1994 by a group of investors from Denmark’s largest financial and industrial institutions. Axcel focuses on investing in medium-sized companies in the Nordic region and has a broad base of both Danish and international investors. Axcel has raised four funds with total committed capital of around DKK 10 billion and has made 39 investments along with 50 significant bolt-on acquisitions. 25 of the companies in which it has invested have so far been sold or floated. Axcel’s investments currently include 14 companies and a significant holding in PANDORA, representing combined revenue of more than DKK 17 billion and around 11,400 employees.

Delete Group, a leading environmental services provider for the industrial, construction and real estate sectors in Finland, Sweden and the Baltics, strengthens its position in the Nordics with a new majority owner. The Nordic private equity investor Axcel has signed an agreement to acquire a majority of the shares in Delete on 10 July 2013.

Intera, together with the entrepreneurs, founded the company in 2010 through a merger of two leading environmental services companies. The company has since its creation grown significantly both organically and through acquisitions and has reached annual revenue of around EUR 100 million.

“Delete has grown rapidly over the past three years, and the new owner provides additional resources to grow in the Nordics. Axcel is committed to the long-term development of the company in order to satisfy increasing customer needs also in the future,” comments Delete’s CEO Jussi Niemelä.

“During Intera’s ownership, Delete has been developed into a leading environmental services provider in Finland and northern Sweden. Delete is well-positioned to continue to grow in the Nordics under the new majority owner,” states Janne Näränen of Intera Partners.

“Axcel is excited to support Delete’s growth going forward. Environmental services will have an increasingly important role in the industrial, construction and municipal sectors,” notes Lars Österberg, partner at Axcel.

The transaction is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2013, subject to approval from theco mpetition authorities. The transaction will not cause changes in the personnel or have impact on customer relationships or partnerships.

Further information:
Janne Näränen, Intera Partners
Tel. +358 50 566 4869
janne.naranen@interapartners.fi

Delete
Delete specialises in environmental services for industry, construction and real estate clients in Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic states. The company’s services include industrial cleaning services, heavy and special demolition services as well as recycling and waste management services. Delete employs nearly 700 environmental services professionals and the pro forma turnover of the business in 2012 amounted to approximately EUR 100 million.

Axcel
Axcel was founded in 1994 by a group of investors from Denmark’s largest financial and industrial institutions. Axcel focuses on investing in medium-sized companies in the Nordic region and has a broad base of both Danish and international investors. Axcel has raised four funds with total committed capital of around DKK 10 billion and has made 39 investments along with 50 significant bolt-on acquisitions. 25 of the companies in which it has invested have so far been sold or floated. Axcel’s investments currently include 14 companies and a significant holding in PANDORA, representing combined revenue of more than DKK 17 billion and around 11,400 employees.

(further information in Finnish)

Delete Group, a leading Nordic company in environmental services, with operations in Finland and in Northern Sweden, has recently expanded its operations through merger with Abrab Industri och Byggservice AB, a Skellefteå- based industrial service company. Delete’s operations in Sweden are organized under Delete Sweden AB and also include Sanvac Miljö AB, an environmental company based in Umeå. Sanvac Miljö AB joined Delete in January 2012.

New CEO for Delete Sweden AB
Appointed as new CEO for Delete Sweden AB is from 15th of January Mr. Christer Gyllengahm. He has worked the last eight years as CEO for Bergteamet, Swedens leading underground mining contractor, based in Boliden. Before that he worked as a regional manager for Kuusakoski Recycling.

– I really look forward to start my new job, says Christer Gyllengahm. Delete is a very exiting company with a clear strategy to grow rapidly in Sweden by offering services in the very important environment area. After meeting with the top management in Delete and learning about the plans in the group, it feels great to be a member of the Nordic Delete team!

New CFO for Delete Sweden AB
Appointed as new CFO for Delete Sweden AB is from spring 2013 Mr. Hans Nordlöf. Hans has since year 2008 been CFO for Bergteamet and he has been a key person in building up an efficient reporting structure in the fast expanding Bergteamet. Hans and Christer have been colleagues since 1997, besides a short period between 2005 and 2007, when Hans was CFO for Boliden Commercial. Before that Hans was CFO for Kuusakoski Recycling in Sweden.

For additional information:
Janne Näränen, Partner, Intera Partners Oy, +358 50 566 4869, janne.naranen@interapartners.fi
Jussi Niemelä, CEO, Delete Group Oy, +358 400 462 696, jussi.niemela@delete.fi

Delete Group, a leading Nordic environmental services company with operations in Finland and in Northern Sweden, will expand its operations through merger with Skellefteå-based Abrab Industri och Byggservice AB.

– Merger with Abrab supports our strategy and strengthens our presence in Northern Sweden, comments Mr. Jussi Niemelä, CEO of Delete Group.

– Abrab is a professionally run company that serves its customers with modern equipment and excellent know-how. This characterizes Delete Group as well. Geographically, the companies fit together well and we believe there are large opportunities for co-operation going forward, Niemelä says.

Over the past years, Abrab’s owners Mikael Hedlund and Peter Östlund have grown Abrab into a well-known, trusted operator in Northern Sweden. Following the merger with Delete Group, both Hedlund and Östlund will continue growing the company in their current roles.

– Delete Group has grown impressively in Finland. I believe that joining Delete opens up an opportunity to further consolidate our service offering in Northern Sweden, says Mr. Hedlund. -We see great potential for example in sharing resources and know-how with Delete. This allows us to offer both more capacity and new services to our clients, says Mr. Östlund.

Following the merger, Delete Group’s 2012 pro forma turnover will amount to nearly 100 million euros. The combined entity employs close to 650 environmental services professionals.

For additional information:
Janne Näränen, Intera Partners Oy, Partner, +358 50 566 4869, janne.naranen@interapartners.fi
Jussi Niemelä, Delete Group Oy, CEO, +358 400 462 696, jussi.niemela@delete.fi

Abrab Industri och Byggservice AB
Abrab Industri och Byggservice AB (http://www.abrab.nu) provides industrial services for industrial and construction sector clients. The company operates in northern Sweden, with headquarters in Skellefteå. Abrab employs approximately 60 professionals and its turnover is about EUR 9.5 million in 2012.

Ownership of the Finnish health technology company Merivaara Corporation will change with the private equity firm Intera Partners purchasing a majority holding in the company. Merivaara’s management and other key employees will become significant minority shareholders. The new shareholders’ aim is to develop Merivaara’s business and strengthen the company’s competitive advantage and position in domestic and international markets. The sellers in the transaction include the current majority shareholders and Board Members Ilkka Laipio and Jukka Suominen, and a number of minority shareholders.

The health technology market is continuing to grow globally. Health technology accounts for approximately 29% of Finnish high-tech exports, growing annually by 3.8% on average (FiHTA, 2011). Merivaara develops, manufactures and sells hospital furniture and systems. The company’s new operating room systems are state-of-the-art solutions in the market. Exports generate almost 90% of the company’s sales, with the Nordic countries, Russia and rest of Europe being the largest market areas. The role of emerging markets is also increasing in Merivaara’s business.

“As an internationally growing company, Merivaara is a very interesting investment for Intera. The company has a long history, solid competence in the industry, and a strong market position in several countries. Furthermore, the extensive product portfolio with new system solutions gives us strong faith in the future. We will develop the operations further in cooperation with the management and personnel,” says Heikki Raulo, Director at Intera.

“We want to make Merivaara a success story in the future health technology market as well. I see this new phase as an excellent opportunity for development and growth. In addition, it will help to strengthen Finland’s position and credibility as an expert in health technology,” says Merivaara’s CEO Vesa Vihavainen.

The Merivaara group includes the Finnish company Merivaara Oy and its subsidiaries Merivaara AB in Sweden and Merivaara A/S in Norway. A fund managed by Intera Partners will become the majority shareholder in the new parent company established in connection with the acquisition, with a holding of approximately 65%. Merivaara’s key employees will hold approximately 35% of the new company.

The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the competition authorities.

For further information, please contact:
Heikki Raulo, Intera Partners Oy, Director, +358 40 719 1589, heikki.raulo@interapartners.fi
Vesa Vihavainen, Merivaara Corporation, CEO, +358 3 3394 6261, vesa.vihavainen@merivaara.com

Merivaara Corporation
Founded in 1901, Merivaara develops and delivers furniture for hospitals, healthcare centres and medical clinics, nursing homes and home care. The company also offers integrated operating room systems and maintenance services that extend the lifetime of its products. Merivaara’s products and solutions—recognised for their ease of use, durability and ergonomic design—are already used in more than 120 countries. Merivaara’s sales for 2012 were close to EUR 40 million, and the company has a total of approximately 140 employees in four countries. The company’s headquarters, production and R&D are located in Lahti. In addition, Merivaara has subsidiaries dedicated to sales and marketing in Sweden and Norway, as well as a sales organisation in Russia. For additional information, visit www.merivaara.com.

A group of private veterinary clinics together with the Finnish private equity firm Intera Partners, have established Animagi, the country’s largest chain of veterinary clinics.

The formation of the chain creates the largest veterinary business in Finland with 13 clinics in 8 regions and more than 160 employees of whom over 60 are veterinary surgeons. Animagi plans to expand its business considerably by both investing in its existing clinics as well as acquiring new clinics.

– The veterinary service market in Finland has been highly fragmented. By creating a nationwide chain we are better positioned to offer a comprehensive range of services in a manner that is truly caring for the patient as well as the customer, says Martti Kiuru, Chairman of the Board at Animagi.

Most of the group’s shareholders are veterinary surgeons. The role of Finnish private equity firm Intera Partners is to ensure adequate resources for execution of Animagi’s growth strategy.

– Small veterinary businesses have grown and maintained their profitability even in weak economic periods. We believe, however, that development of veterinary services will require consolidation into larger entities with stronger resources, says Jokke Paananen at Intera Partners.

The first clinics which make up Animagi are: Akuutti (Oulu), Fokus (Lappeenranta), HauMau (Helsinki), Kannelmäen Eläinlääkärit (Helsinki), Kauris (Kerava), Keski-Suomen Eläinklinikka (Jyväskylä), Oulun Hevosklinikka (Oulu), Robans Vet (Helsinki), Salon Eläinlääkärikeskus (Salo), Tawastvet (Hämeenlinna), Tikki (Helsinki), Veter (Tampere) and VuoVet (Helsinki).

More information:
Martti Kiuru, Animagi, Chairman of the Board, +358 40 581 1545, martti.kiuru@jenio.fi
Jokke Paananen, Intera Partners, Partner, +358 50 300 3737, jokke.paananen@interapartners.fi

Animagi is Finland’s largest chain of veterinary service providers with annual revenues of over EUR 13 million. The company has 13 clinics in 8 regions and more than 160 employees of whom over 60 are veterinary surgeons.

Mikeva, one of the leading social care service providers in Finland, has been acquired by G Square Capital I together with Mikeva’s management on June 27th, 2012. G Square is a Paris-based private equity firm dedicated to investing in European social and healthcare companies. In connection with the transaction, Intera Fund I divests all its holdings in Mikeva.

According to Intera’s Managing Partner Mr Tuomas Lang, investment in Mikeva has been a successful one. “During Intera’s ownership period, Mikeva has grown significantly and its business has been developed decisively. The company is in a good position to continue its growth under the new ownership.”

“We are very pleased to have a new owner who is committed to the long-term development of Mikeva. Through G Square, we will benefit from a professional and international development team with extensive experience and know-how in healthcare services across Europe. The change of ownership has no impact on our employees’ position. We have a firm objective to continue our growth as a nationwide service provider.” comments Mikeva’s CEO Mr Petri Pitkäranta.

Mikeva has provided social and care services since 1987. The company is headquartered in Vantaa, Finland.

For more information:
Tuomas Lang, Managing Partner, Intera Partners Oy, tel. +358 40 545 1240
Petri Pitkäranta, Managing Director, Mikeva Oy, tel. +358 44 7800 600