CapMan strengthened its position as one of the leading private equity investors in the Nordic countries via acquisitions of Nordic Private Equity A/S in Denmark in 2001 and of Swedestart Management AB in Sweden in February 2002. CapMan is today the largest private equity team in the Nordic countries with a total staff of 70 people based in Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. In order to fully capitalise on synergies from its Nordic activities CapMan reorganises itself and shifts from multiple country organisations to pan-Nordic business and support units.
The new organisation structure comprises of three Nordic business units (Buy-out, Technology, Life Science) and two Nordic support units (Group Finance and Administration, Group Development). The new organisation is effective as of September 2, 2002. Several appointments have been made in connection with the new organisation.
Mr. Heikki Westerlund, M.Sc. (Econ), 36, Senior Partner, has been appointed as the Head of Buy-out Unit. Westerlund joined CapMan in 1994. Westerlund acts also as deputy for CapMan’s CEO Ari Tolppanen,M.Sc. (Eng.), 49. Mr. Leif Jensen, 57, Senior Partner, having more than 15 years of experience from Nordic private equity, will act as Westerlund’s deputy.
Mr. Lennart Jacobsson, BBA, 47, Senior Partner, has been appointed as the Head of Technology Unit. Jacobsson co-founded Swedestart Management AB in 1995 and has 20 years of experience from venture capital. Further, Jacobsson served as the Chairman of the Swedish Venture Capital Association between 1999 and 2001. Mr Petri Niemi, M.Sc. (Eng.), 42, Partner, will act as Jacobsson’s deputy.
Mr. Jan Lundahl, B.Sc. (Econ), 48, Senior Partner, has been appointed as the Head of Life Science Unit. Lundahl joined Swedestart in 1997 and has an extensive venture capital experience before that within life science having established the first venture capital firm in Sweden specialising in life science together with Investor AB in 1987.
Mr. Olli Liitola, M.Sc (Eng.), 44, Senior Partner, has been appointed as the Head of Group Finance and Administration. Liitola joined CapMan in 1991. Ms. Heidi Lepäntalo, B.Sc. (Econ.), 51, has been appointed as Group Controller as of September 9, 2002. Previously she served as Business Development Director at Polar Real Estate. Ms. Heli Rantala, Grad. of Comm. Coll, 39, has been appointed as Back Office Manager. Rantala joined CapMan in 1994. Ms. Tuija Souri, Grad. of Comm. Coll, 48 continues as Chief Accountant. Souri joined CapMan in 2000.
Mr. Vesa Vanha-Honko, M.Sc. (Eng.), BBA, 46, Senior Partner, has been appointed as the Head of Group Development. Vanha-Honko joined CapMan in 1989. Mr. Jerome Bouix, M.Sc. (Econ.), 31, will act as Vanha-Honko’s deputy and has been appointed as the Director of Investor Relations and Communications. Bouix joined CapMan in 2000.
