Vaaka acquires Unisport Scandinavia, Saltex ahead of merger

Mikkel Stern-Peltz
07 December 2015

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Vaaka Partners has acquired sport facilities services provider Unisport Scandinavia from Swedish buyout firm Priveq, in order to merge it with Finnish artificial turf maker Saltex.

In addition to the SBO of Unisport Scandinavia, Vaaka also backed the buyout of Saltex, and will become a majority shareholder in the newco created for the merger of the two business.

Finnish Industry Investment will support the deal, becoming a shareholder alongside Vaaka. The companies' management and founders, as well as Priveq, will become minority shareholders in the new business.

The partial exit comes seven years after Priveq took a 70% stake in Unisport Scandinavia through a management buyout from founder Mikael Hjelte. Durings its ownership, the GP grew Unisport Scandinavia's revenue from SEK 200m to SEK 500m, through organic growth as well as acquisitions, such as the bolt-on of Norway's Scansis.

Company
Founded in 1991, Saltex is a provider of FIFA-certified artificial grass turfs, athletic track and playground surfaces, as well interior carpets.

The company is headquartered in Alajärvi and its main markets are the Nordic countries, central and eastern Europe and parts of western Europe.

Landskrona-headquartered Unisport Scandinavia is a Swedish company providing installation and services for sports facilities. Founded in 1983, the company employs a staff of 70.

People
Karl-Johan Willén is a partner at Priveq and Juha Peltola is the managing director of Vaaka. Mikko Kilpeläinen is the CEO of the merged Saltex and Unisport Scandinavia group.