Saari Partners announces a new EUR 40 million fund for growing service SMEs through marketing and digitalisation

The fund will make majority investments in small and mid-sized service companies with the aim of growing them into sector leaders through focused development of their branding, marketing and digitalisation.

Saari Partners Oy raised EUR 40 million in commitments to the new Saari I Ky fund in the first closing. The fund will make majority investments in small and mid-sized service companies with the aim of growing them into sector leaders through focused development of their branding, marketing and digitalisation. A promising investee company has committed entrepreneurs who aim to raise the company to the next level. It has a positive cash flow, an established foothold in its chosen sector and generates net sales of some EUR 4-7 million. During the investment period, the fund will invest in a base of 4-6 companies and grow them both organically and through consolidation.

“Finland has plenty of SMEs doing great work that have excellent growth potential. However, they do not have all the resources they need to pursue growth,” explains Saari’s CEO Ben Wrede. “We want to be a competent and capable partner to such companies, and help them take the next successful step on their growth path,” he continues.

The founding partners of the Saari I Ky fund are Mikael Lönnroth, Pirjo Kiiski, Mia Sirkiä and Ben Wrede.
Mikael Lönnroth was previously IT director at Turvatiimi and Oral Hammaslääkärit. Pirjo Kiiski, formerly Lumene’s CFO, is also joining the fund. Mia Sirkiä, formerly a partner at advertising agency Hasan & Partners, comes from a brand-building background. Ben Wrede was previously Atine Group’s CEO.

The largest investors in the fund are Tesi, KRR III, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, AI-Partners Oy, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company and The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.

“We are delighted to get a new entrant in Finland’s investment market, especially a player of such a diversified composition and background. The new fund’s investment focus encompasses plenty of potential investee companies with businesses that would benefit greatly from digitalisation,” says Tesi’s Investment Director Riitta Jääskeläinen.

Saari I Ky started operating on 31 January 2018, and its second and final round of fund-raising will close on 31 January 2019 at the latest.

For more information:

Ben Wrede, CEO, Saari Partners Oy,
 tel. +358-40-5105940, ben.wrede@saaripartners.fi

Riitta Jääskeläinen, Investment Director, Tesi, tel. +358-50-3092733, riitta.jaaskelainen@tesi.fi

Saari flourishes on the strengths of its community. On capability, experience and commitment. The companies in our portfolio are our partners who will benefit the most from our competence and experience. By providing the required resources and complementing the company’s strengths we serve as pilots over the next critical phase of the company’s growth. Saari creates the framework for strengthening a company and piloting it to the next level of success. For more information: www.saaripartners.fi

Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a venture capital and private equity company that accelerates companies’ success stories by investing in them directly and via funds. Tesi always invests together with other investors, providing them with access to high quality deal-flow in Finland. Our investments under management total €1.2 billion and we have altogether 700 companies in portfolio. www.tesi.fi / @TesiFII