Richard Åkerman
Richard Åkerman
Richard Åkerman’s practice focuses on corporate and private equity transactions. He frequently provides advice regarding corporate law, governance and transactional matters to corporations and financial sponsors. Richard has also advised many industrial and technology companies in restructuring and insolvency situations. Richard Åkerman is the chairman of Hannes Snellman’s board of directors.
Richard Åkerman builds his advice and communication on trust. He is very solid in all aspects of M&A and it is always a pleasure to work with him.
Legal 500 | Commercial, Corporate and M&A
References
Parties
Fazer Group and Trensums Food
Transaction
Counsel to Fazer Group in its acquisition of Trensums Food
Deal Value
Not public
Role
Counsel to Fazer Group
Richard Åkerman
Miklos Kovacs Kal
Jonas Sjöberg
Emma Andersson
Mikael Stabo
Andreas Wingren
Jessica Tressfeldt
Josephine Lindgren
David Olander
Parties
Charles River
Transaction
Counsel to Charles River in Its Sale of Cobra Matfors to Flerie Invest
Deal Value
USD 52,000,000
Role
Counsel to Charles River
Richard Åkerman
Douglas Essehorn
Parties
Gores Guggenheim, Inc., Polestar
Transaction
Counsel to Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed by the affiliates of The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital, LLC, in its proposed business combination with the global electric performance car company Polestar.
Deal Value
Role
Counsel to Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
Richard Åkerman
Douglas Essehorn
Alexander Lindqvist
Elisabeth Vestin
Anna Ribenfors
Josephine Lindgren
Lisa Pålsson
Fredrik Olsson
Andreas Wingren
Parties
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Cognate BioServices, Inc. Cobra Biologics
Transaction
Swedish counsel to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. in the acquisition of Cognate BioServices, Inc,. including its Swedish and British subsidiaries Cobra Biologics.
Deal value
The purchase price amounted approximately USD 875 million.
Role
Counsel to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
Richard Åkerman
Douglas Essehorn
Jenny Lundberg
Elisabeth Vestin
Parties
Altra Industrial Motion, MTEK Industry AB
Transactions
Altra Industrial Motion in the forming of a strategic partnership with MTEK Industry AB.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Altra Industrial Motion
Richard Åkerman
Miklos Kovacs Kal
Jenny Lundberg
Parties
SGS, SYNLAB’s Analytics & Services division
Transaction
SGS to buy SYNLAB's Analytics & Services division
Deal value
EUR 550 million
Role
Swedish and Finnish Counsel to SGS
Richard Åkerman
Emma Andersson
Josephine Lindgren
Amanda Blick
Noora Britschgi
Parties
The Kantar Group Limited (target), Bain Capital, LP (Buyer), WPP Plc (Seller)
Transaction
Bain Capital, LP. has agreed to acquire 60 per cent of the Kantar Group Limited, from WPP Plc in a restructuring transaction.
Deal Value
EUR 3551.77 million
Role
Counsel to WPP Plc
Richard Åkerman
Heidi Haanpää
Sara Soini
Josephine Lindgren
Jenny Lundberg
Parties
Transdev Group, Flygbussarna Airport Coaches
Transaction
Transdev Group in its divestment of Flygbussarna Airport Coaches to Vy
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Transdev Group
Richard Åkerman
Ammar Khan
Jessica Tressfeldt
Jenny Lundberg
Josephine Lindgren
Parties
AAC Capital Partners, Intermediate Capital Group PLC and other shareholders (Sellers), Viking Redningstjeneste Topco AS (Target)
Transaction
P&C Insurance Ltd (publ) in its Acquisition of Viking Redningstjeneste Topco AS
Deal Value
EUR 32 million
Role
Swedish and Finnish counsel to Sweden-based insurance company If P&C Insurance Ltd (publ)
Richard Åkerman
Outi Raitasuo
Johanna Wärnberg
Emmi Kantola
Sara Heikfolk
Parties
Fazer Food Services, Compass Group PLC
Transaction
Fazer Group in its divestment of Fazer Food Services to Compass Group PLC
Deal Value
EUR 475 million
Role
Counsel to Fazer Group
Richard Åkerman
Riikka Rannikko
Ammar Khan
Jonas Sjöberg
Sini Paajanen
Johanna Haltia-Tapio
Jenny Lundberg
Josephine Lindgren
Jenni Heurlin
Parties
Transdev, Utö Rederi AB
Transaction
Transdev, a Sweden-based private passenger transport company, has acquired Utö Rederi AB, a shipping company that operates passenger traffic in Stockholm's southern archipelago.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Transdev
Claes Kjellberg
Richard Åkerman
Ninja Pyy
Parties
Ramirent Plc (buyer), Stavdal AB
Transaction
Ramirent in its acquisition of Stavdal AB to become the leading company in Swedish equipment rental market
Deal Value
EUR 158 million
Role
Counsel to Ramirent Plc
Peter Forsberg
Jenny Lundberg
Richard Åkerman
David Olander
Parties
Direct Conversion AB (Target), Varex Imaging Corporation (Bidder)
Transaction
Counsel to the sellers of Direct Conversion in a 90% stake acquisition by Varex Imaging.
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to sellers of Direct Conversion
Richard Åkerman
Mattias Friberg
Ammar Khan
Khaled Talayhan
Douglas Essehorn
Carolina Wahlby
Parties
Kildare Partners, Technopolis Plc
Transaction
Kildare Partners’ public tender offer for Technopolis Plc, a Finland-based listed company providing offices, coworking spaces and related services
Deal Value
EUR 729.7 million
Role
Counsel to Kildare Partners
Klaus Ilmonen
Richard Åkerman
Antti Kuha
Anniina Järvinen
Antti Nyberg (Alanko)
Lauri Marjamäki
Katja Heikkinen
Noora Britschgi
Jonas Sjöberg
Agda Vähä-Piikkiö
Tapio Teräkivi
Parties
AtoB@C Shipping AB (Target), Aspo Plc (Bidder) Anders Nilsson (Private Investor)(Seller)
Transaction
Aspo Plc has agreed to acquire AtoB@C Shipping AB from Anders Nilsson (Private investor).
Deal Value
EUR 30 million
Role
Counsel to Aspo Plc
Richard Åkerman
Riikka Rannikko
Mikko Huimala
Josephine Lindgren
Sara Soini
Parties
Asiakastieto Group Plc (Buyer), UC AB (Target), Six Swedish banks (Sellers)
Transaction
Asiakastieto Group Plc’s pending acquisition of UC AB, a credit information company
Deal Value
Appr. EUR 340 million
Role
Counsel to Asiakastieto Group Plc
Klaus Ilmonen
Richard Åkerman
Markus Bremer
Elisabeth Vestin
Antti Kuha
Albert Danielsson
Elina Toivakainen
Sara Heikfolk
Lauri Marjamäki
Jonas Sjöberg
Jenny Lundberg
Annemari Rosi
Parties
Fazer Group (Buyer), Froosh (Target), Unilever Ventures and minority owners (Seller)
Transaction
Fazer Group's acquisition of Froosh
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Fazer Group
Richard Åkerman
Parties
Wärtsilä Corporation (Buyer), Puregas Solutions AB (Target)
Transaction
Wärtsilä Corporation’s agreement to acquire Puregas Solutions AB
Deal Value
EUR 29 million
Role
Counsel to Wärtsilä Corporation
Richard Åkerman
Peter Forsberg
Parties
Dual Co Ltd (Buyer), Herenco AB, Pomona-Gruppen AB, Larsson Industrier i Smalandsstenar AB (Sellers), Borgstena Group Sweden (Target)
Transaction
DUAL Co., Ltd. will acquire 95% stake in Borgstena Group Sweden, from Herenco AB, Pomona-Gruppen AB, and Larsson Industrier i Smalandsstenar AB.
Deal Value
USD 56.2 million
Role
Counsel to DUAL Co., Ltd.
Richard Åkerman
Parties
Intrum Justitia AB (Buyer) Lindorff (Target)
Transaction
Counsel to Intrum Justitia in Connection with the Combination with Lindorff
Deal Value
SEK 40 billion
Role
Counsel to Intrum Justitia AB
Fredrik Olsson
Richard Åkerman
Claes Kjellberg
Jenny Lundberg
Carolina Wahlby
Parties
Valedo Partners Fund I (Seller), Akademikliniken (Target), Polaris Private Equity (Buyer)
Transaction
Valedo Partners Fund I has agreed to divest its majority holding in Akademikliniken to Polaris Private Equity
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Valedo
Richard Åkerman
Parties
Oy Karl Fazer AB (Buyer), Frebaco Kvarn AB (Target)
Transaction
Oy Karl Fazer AB has acquired Frebaco Kvarn AB
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Oy Karl Fazer AB
Richard Åkerman
Peter Forsberg
Parties
Oak & Oak AB, managers and directors (Sellers), Ekelöw InfoSecurity AB (Target), PwC Sweden (Buyer)
Transaction
The sale of Ekelöw InfoSecurity AB to PwC Sweden
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Oak & Oak AB, managers and directors
Richard Åkerman
Claes Kjellberg
Parties
Discovery Networks Sweden and Modern Times Group (MTG) Sweden
Transaction
Discovery Networks Sweden and Modern Times Group (MTG) Sweden have established a joint venture to combine their regional advertising sales businesses for their respective flagship television channels in Sweden, Kanal 5 and TV3. The new 50:50 JV company is named Airtime Sales
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Discovery Networks Sweden
Richard Åkerman
Parties
Sensys Traffic (Buyer), Gatso Beheer B.V. (Target)
Transaction
Sensys Traffic has entered into an agreement to acquire the Dutch company Gatso Beheer B.V
Deal Value
Approximately MSEK 278.
Role
Counsel to Sensys Traffic
Richard Åkerman
Peter Forsberg
Parties
TeliaSonera, Spotify
Transaction
TeliaSonera is investing USD 115 million for a 1.4 percent stake in Spotify
Deal Value
USD 115 million
Role
Counsel to TeliaSonera
Richard Åkerman
Claes Kjellberg
Carolina Wahlby
Parties
Nefab AB (Target), Wallenberg Foundations FAM (Bidder), Nordgren/Pihl family (Seller)
Transaction
FAM's investment in Nefab
Deal Value
SEK 1.1 billion targeted share issue
Role
Counsel to the Nordgren/Pihl family
Richard Åkerman
Peter Forsberg
Parties
NEP Group Inc.(Buyer), Mediatec Group (Target)
Transaction
NEP Group Inc.'s acquisition of Mediatec Group from its current owners
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to NEP Group Inc.
Richard Åkerman
Parties
Novax (Buyer), Academic Work (Target), Latour (Seller)
Transaction
Novax' acquisition of Latour’s entire shareholding in Academic Work
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to Novax
Richard Åkerman
Claes Kjellberg
Rankings
- "Good network and experience in several areas, and he is also easy to work with." Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global, 2022
- Ranked among the 2021 Top DeSPAC Lawyers in EMEA, 2021 Top M&A Lawyers in Nordics, 2021 Top M&A Lawyers in EMEA, and 2021 Top Private Equity Lawyers in EMEA by MergerLinks, 2021
- 'One client says: "Richard Åkerman builds his advice and communication on trust. He is very solid in all aspects of M&A and it is always a pleasure to work with him.", Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2021
- 'Described as "knowledgeable, pragmatic and results-oriented"', Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2021
- "Assists a broad range of clientele with public and private M&A." Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2020
- Ranked as Highly regarded lawyer, Private Equity, IFLR1000, 2020
- Recommended in Corporate/M&A, Legal 500, 2019
- Ranked as Highly regarded lawyer, Private Equity, IFLR1000, 2019
- "A respected lawyer in the market, Richard Åkerman advises clients on a broad range of M&A mandates and has recent experience assisting clients from the food and pharmaceutical industries.", Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2018
- Ranked as Highly regarded lawyer, Corporate/M&A, Private Equity, IFLR1000, 2018
- "Truly professional.", Commercial, Corporate/M&A, Legal 500, 2017
- 'One client says: "He is not only a very experienced M&A lawyer, but he is very business-oriented and understands which matters to focus on", also appreciating that he is "very pleasant to work with and has great social skills.", Corporate/M&A, Chambers Europe, 2017
- Ranked as Leading lawyer, Private Equity, IFLR1000, 2017
- "Richard Åkerman heads the firm's private M&A practice. He is recommended for his transactional experience, particularly in the information and communications technology sectors.", Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global 2016 and Chambers Europe 2016
- 'Richard Åkerman is "to the point in his advice and focused on the deal fundamentals."', Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2015
Memberships and Positions of Trust
- Member of the Swedish Bar Association
Education and Professional Background
- Partner, Hannes Snellman, Stockholm, 2008
- Managing Partner, Hannes Snellman, 2002 – 2004
- Partner, Setterwalls, 2000 – 2008
- Associate Lawyer, Advokatfirman Hammarskiöld & Co., 1998 – 2000
- Associate Lawyer, Lagerlöf & Leman Advokatbyrå, 1995 – 1998
- LL.M., Columbia University School of Law, New York, 1994
- Service with Swedish Courts, 1991 – 1993
- Jur. kand. (LL.M.), Stockholm University, 1991
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