Deal description:
As a result of the ownership arrangement implemented on March 31, 2022, Sponsor Capital will join as a new owner to support the implementation of the growth plan of Vantaan Kiinnike ja Rak Oy (“Van-Ki”). Entrepreneurs Aki and Ari Laine will continue to lead the company as significant minority shareholders.
Van-Ki is a wholesaler serving professional builders, offering its customers a comprehensive range of fasteners, tools and construction supplies. The company delivers the products by fast freight to the customer’s site during the same day. Van-Ki has a pick-up store in Suutarila, Helsinki. The company serves its customers with more than 20 people.
Van-Ki’s CEO Aki Laine sees the arrangement as a natural continuation of the company’s long-term growth story.
‒We have so far grown in a controlled manner to invest in strong customer service on our own. Now is a natural time to launch the implementation of Van-Ki’s next phase of growth plan with the support of Sponsor Capital. Our operations will continue to be based on familiar operating models and customer focus. With wider shoulders, we will be able to serve our customers even more comprehensively in the future. Our goal is to expand our operating area geographically and further develop our product offering.
Ari Laine, Sales Director of Van-Ki, thanks the dedicated and professional staff for their strong work.
-Strong customer service culture requires a good contribution from the entire organization. We are therefore very pleased with the commitment of our dedicated and professional staff. We want to continue to be a company favored by both employees and customers. Van-Ki’s future growth goals require additional resources that we will be able to secure with our new expanded ownership base.
Matti Virolainen, a partner in Sponsor Capital, sees Van-Ki as a great company in an interesting industry.
‒We are proud to take Van-Ki to the next stage of growth together with the management and staff who have done a great job. Van-Ki is an exceptionally fine company that has achieved a strong position among its customers. Customer focus and strong technical knowledge of the industry’s products are strengths on which it is good to build future development plans.
Mergero acted as the sell-side advisor on the transaction.