Author: laurasarvi

The Finnish architecture market will receive a new player that will focus on ambitious and forward-moving architecture. ARCO Architecture Company will be established from the merger of Aihio Arkkitehdit, Arkkitehdit Soini & Horto, and Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects. The merger is enabled by the Finnish private equity firm Intera Partners.

ARCO will combine the expertise and unique project portfolio of the three firms, thus forming a unparalleled player in the Finnish market. The three firms will unite a community of approximately 190 professionals, which will create the largest architectural firm in Finland. Arco aims to strengthen the development of the industry as well as Finnish architectural know-how.

Aihio Arkkitehdit, Arkkitehdit Soini & Horto, and Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects regard each other as exciting partners and that the combination will enrich all parties. The merger is enabled by the Finnish private equity firm Intera Partners.

“Intera has extensive experience in the construction value chain and professional services regarding built environment. ARCO is a platform for sustainable and ambitious architecture, and a committed team of the top professionals in the industry. ARCO wants to be the forerunner in Finnish architecture. In the future ARCO may also seize international growth opportunities.”, says Tomi Terho, Partner at Intera Partners.

All three firms have strong expertise in the planning and design of complex urban structures. Aihio Arkkitehdit is also known for university and hospital projects and their cooperation with international architectural firms, Arkkitehdit Soini & Horto from their renovation and hotel cases, and Cederqvist & Jäntti Architects from their competition success and urban multipurpose blocks. www.arco.fi

Press release 14 September 2021

Intera Fund II Ky has sold 1,119,973 shares in Kreate Group Plc on 3rd of September. The number of shares sold represents approximately 12.5 per cent of all the shares in the company. The price was EUR 10.30 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately EUR 11.5 million. After the sale Intera is no longer holding any shares in Kreate Group Plc.

As a result of Intera’s investment, Avara Isännöinti Oy and Provia Isännöinti Oy will join forces and create a new leading player in the Finnish real estate management market. The new company will become one of the largest Finnish real estate management players that will challenge the large and established companies within the industry. The merger enables potential for strong growth and opens up new opportunities to further develop industry practices. Both companies’ key personnel will continue in central positions after the transaction and the transaction has no effect on current customer agreements.

“We are satisfied that we can renew the Finnish real estate management industry through this investment. Avara Isännöinti and Provia Isännöinti are both very well-regarded players within the industry, and the work done by their employees enables a strong foundation on which to build future development and growth. The basis for the new company’s operations is exceptional customer service, utilization of digital systems as well as responsible and transparent working methods”, says Intera’s partner Arjo Laukia.

Avara Isännöinti is a B2B focused real estate management company that operates in multiple municipalities in Finland. Its revenue is around €4m and it employs around 40 personnel (https://www.avara.fi/isannointi). Provia is a real estate management company focused on capital region B2C customers. Its revenue is around €6m and it has around 50 employees (https://provia.fi).

Through the new fund Intera Partners continues its strategy of investing in companies to accelerate growth and internationalization.

Intera Partners has today announced the closing of its fourth fund. The Intera IV Fund was oversubscribed and closed at €335m. Intera received strong support from its existing investor base alongside substantial new commitments from European investors, further internationalizing Intera’s investor base.

The closing of Intera Fund IV follows successful exits in early 2021 including the IPOs of Sitowise and Kreate and the sale of Rototec as well as recent investments in Galena Pharma and Midagon.

Since 2007 Intera has partnered up with entrepreneurs and management teams, and supported the growth of its portfolio companies. On average Intera’s portfolio companies have grown by over 200% during Intera’s ownership and Intera has supported multiple Nordic and European expansions such as Kamux, PHM-Kotikatu and Renta.

“It is fantastic to see the investor support that we have received across our existing and new investors. We see the interest towards our fund as a proof of our ability to identify attractive opportunities and drive successful growth stories”, says Jokke Paananen, Co-Founder of Intera Partners.

The new fund will continue Intera’s strategy to invest in companies looking to accelerate growth and internationalization, and the increased fund size enables scaling its portfolio companies even further than before. The focus of the fund will be in Finnish investments with emphasis on service sectors, but it will also target selected Swedish investment opportunities.

“Intera’s work has resulted in our portfolio companies today employing over 11 000 people and to date 50 per cent of the companies in our last fund have expanded internationally during our ownership. We have a proven track record of partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams, and of driving the growth of our portfolio companies both organically and through buy and build with over 200 add-on acquisitions completed. With our new fund we are looking for new companies that want to reach their full potential”, says Juhana Kallio, Partner at Intera Partners.

The Intera Fund IV fundraise was advised by Rede Partners and Borenius Attorneys.

Press release 21.06.2021

Intera joins Midagon as new growth partner and shareholder, and will continue to build Midagon’s growth story together with management and personnel.

Midagon will continue on its proven path of serving customers with a clear value proposition and integrity. Together with Intera, Midagon will have access to even more tools and resources to grow and develop, and serve its customers even better than in the past both in Finland and in international markets.

“During the past few years, Midagon’s growth has been strong, and this is an important next step in our growth story. With more resources for growth and internationalization, we look forward to serving our customers even more broadly and offering top opportunities for experienced project and program managers. As the number and complexity of critical business and IT transformations increases, there will be clear demand for independent advisory also in the future”, says Midagon’s CEO Ilkka Töyrylä.

“Midagon is today one of the few truly independent and objective advisors to customers looking to successfully transform their operations and IT. The company has grown over many years thanks to its clear customer focus and strong value proposition to its experienced and highly capable employees. We look forward to partnering with Midagon’s team in continuing this successful journey of growth and building further on the company’s strengths”, says Intera’s Partner Christoffer Zilliacus.

For further information, please contact:

Christoffer Zilliacus, Partner

christoffer.zilliacus@interapartners.fi

Midagon is a Finnish, independent consulting company focused on business transformation program management. Midagon’s experienced senior managing consultants have on average more than 20 years of experience from realizing business benefits through complex business transformations. Midagon was established in 2006 and has 70 employees. www.midagon.com

Sitowise, a Nordic expert in the built environment with a strong focus on digitality, was successfully listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange. Over the past five years, Intera has taken part in building Sitowise and its strong growth. Intera will remain as a major shareholder in the company after the listing. In the offering, Sitowise gained more than 9,000 new shareholders, including a wide group of major international and domestic institutions as well as more than 800 employee shareholders.

Sitowise was born in 2017 under Intera’s leadership. The company has grown in Finland and Sweden through active and successful recruitment and acquisitions that have brought in the best entrepreneurs and talents in the industry. Every day, Sitowise’s more than 1,900 experts from different fields join forces to ensure that transport, infrastructure and different buildings could offer the best possible settings for safe and carefree daily life. Sitowise wants to raise the bar for intelligence and responsibility, and it has set a vision to be the most responsible partner in developing a prosperous living environment.

In the offering, Sitowise raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 75 million and, in addition, Intera and certain other shareholders sold shares worth approximately EUR 86 million at a market capitalization of approximately EUR 288 million. Sitowise’s owners now include significant Finnish and international institutions such as Ilmarinen, EVLI, Lannebo Fonder, Didner & Gerge, Capital World Investors and Paradigm Capital. The share offering received widespread international interest and was oversubscribed. After the listing, more than half of Sitowise’s employees are also the company’s shareholders.

“This successful IPO is an important milestone for Sitowise in implementing a joint value creation strategy. Majority of Sitowise employees have committed to the company through ownership, which is a sign of a strong partnership culture in the company,” comments Tomi Terho, Intera’s partner, who will continue as a board member of Sitowise after the listing.

Intera Fund II Ky has sold the children’s indoor play center chain HopLop to Capman Special Situations I Ky. During Intera’s approximately five-year ownership period, HopLop completed a significant growth phase and internationalization as well as developed essential business capabilities.

Release from the HopLop website

Kreate, one of Finland’s leading infrastructure contractors, has been successfully listed on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki. The IPO was heavily oversubscribed with Kreate receiving a record-breaking 18,600 new shareholders. As part of the IPO, Intera Fund II Ky sold part of its ownership in Kreate to institutional and private investors, while retaining a significant shareholding.

Kreate was formed in 2014 through the merger of Fin-Seula Oy, Insinööritoimisto Seppo Rantala Oy and Kesälahden Maansiirto Oy. The three infrastructure construction specialists bring over 190 years of operating expertise in infrastructure construction. During the joint journey, Intera has supported Kreate in implementing its growth strategy, executing add-on acquisitions, and strengthening its market position, among others.

In line with its strategy, Kreate especially focuses on demanding infrastructure construction projects. Increasing urbanisation drives the need for infrastructure construction and adds to its complexity. Intera believes that Kreate’s broad and specialised offering, high employee satisfaction and ability to utilise digital tools will provide the company with a competitive advantage in demanding projects that require a variety of special expertise. Thanks to the successful IPO, Kreate will have even better possibilities to execute its strategy. After the IPO, Intera will remain as a significant shareholder.

Intera’s Janne Näränen will continue as a member of the Board in Kreate after the IPO.