Band 1
Provided by Sebastian Kellas
Tax and structuring, Mergers and acquisitions, Dispute resolution, Real estate and construction, Financial services
Sebastian is a recognized tax professional with extensive experience in M&A, capital market and real estate transactions as well as private equity, venture capital and incentive schemes. He regularly represents his clients in tax courts in complex tax disputes. Sebastian also has deep knowledge in company law and accounting related matters. As the secretary of a working group appointed by the Ministry of Justice, he drafted the amended provisions into the Finnish Companies Act regarding cross-border mergers and demergers.
Avance Attorneys Ltd, Partner 2019–
Taxpoint Attorneys Ltd, Partner (2014–2019)
KPMG Finland, Partner (2007–2014)
KPMG Finland, Tax Advisor, Manager, Senior Manager and Director (1998–2006)
Helsinki Tax Office, Tax Official (1997–1998)
Finnish Bar Association
Provided by Chambers
Sebastian Kellas is a highly knowledgeable tax lawyer who regularly advises on the tax and structuring aspects of corporate transactions, strategic partnerships and employee co-investment structures. He is also well versed in VAT disputes, with experience acting before the Supreme Administrative Court.
Provided by Chambers
He is a talented structuring and tax professional with outside the box solutions. He has a great ability to explain complex issues in layman's terms and what the implications of different scenarios would mean for the client.
Sebastian Kellas is the best tax lawyer in Finland.
Sebastian is a true expert in his field.
He is my go-to lawyer on tax issues.
He is a very skilled lawyer.
He is a talented structuring and tax professional with outside the box solutions. He has a great ability to explain complex issues in layman's terms and what the implications of different scenarios would mean for the client.
Sebastian Kellas is the best tax lawyer in Finland.
Sebastian is a true expert in his field.
He is my go-to lawyer on tax issues.
He is a very skilled lawyer.
28 items provided by Avance
Clearfield divests Nestor Cables
Avance advises US-listed Clearfield, Inc. on its divestment of Nestor Cables Ltd, a Finnish developer and manufacturer of fiber optic cable solutions, through a management buyout.
Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt acquires Arken
Avance advises Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt Oy in the acquisition of the historical Arken campus from the Åbo Akademi University Foundation for a purchase price of approx. EUR 43 million.
Hemsö acquires the Salpausselkä school property in Lahti
Avance advises Hemsö in the acquisition of the Salpausselkä secondary school, which accommodates 650 students.
Nordisk Renting acquires a healthcare property asset
Avance advises Nordisk Renting in the acquisition of a healthcare property asset from Investors House Oyj and Ovaro Kiinteistösijoitus Oyj for approx. EUR 60 million.
Mehiläinen raises financing led by CVC Capital Partners with Hellman & Friedman as key investors
Avance advises CVC Capital Partners and its portfolio company Mehiläinen in a transaction where international private equity firm Hellman & Friedman joins CVC as a significant investor in Mehiläinen.
VIA equity and Saarni Cloud enter into a strategic partnership
Avance advises VIA equity in its strategic partnership with Saarni Cloud, a SaaS pioneer and the leading provider of HR software solutions in Finland.
NCC divests new public properties project for SEK 900 million
Avance advised NCC Property Development in the divestment of the public properties project Cleantech Garden in Espoo, Finland, comprising approximately 13,750 square meters of lettable area for SEK 900 million.
Neqst to acquire WithSecure’s cyber security consulting business
Avance advises Neqst, a Swedish investment firm specializing in profitable growth companies within the software and IT-services sectors, in its acquisition of the cyber security consulting business currently operated by WithSecure Corporation.
Hostaway raises $365 million growth investment
Avance advises the founders of Hostaway, a leading all-in-one vacation rental software and management system, on a $365 million strategic growth investment in Hostaway led by General Atlantic, with participation from existing investor PSG Equity.
Odevo to acquire Retta Isännöinti
Avance advises Retta Group and Altor Equity Partners in the sale of Retta Isännöinti to Odevo. Retta Isännöinti is Finland’s largest service company in the management of residential and real estate companies, with close to 6,000 customers, 150,000 homes under management and 600 employees.
Mehiläinen repurchases all shares held by LocalTapiola
Avance advises Mehiläinen and its majority owner, CVC Capital Partners, on a transaction whereby Mehiläinen Konserni Oy repurchased all shares held by LocalTapiola in the company as well as the related debt financing arrangements. Prior to the transaction, LocalTapiola owned approximately 20 percent
Combination of Canatu Oy and Lifeline SPAC I Plc
Avance advises Canatu Oy and its shareholders and option holders in the de-SPAC combination of Canatu and Lifeline SPAC I Plc, whereby Lifeline SPAC I acquires all shares and option rights in Canatu by way of a directed share issue consisting of Lifeline SPAC I’s new shares and option rights.
Combination of the share classes of Keskisuomalainen
Avance advises Keskisuomalainen Oyj in connection with the combination of the company's two share classes and related directed share issuance to the holders of former class K shares in the company.
A consortium formed by Apollo and Rettig announces a public tender offer for all shares in Purmo
Avance advises Rettig Oy Ab and the consortium formed by certain affiliated funds of Apollo Global Management and Rettig in relation to the voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all the shares in Purmo Group Plc announced by the consortium’s special purpose vehicle.
Kurio acquired by SAMY Alliance
Avance advises the owners of Kurio, a social-first creative agency, in the sale of Kurio to SAMY Alliance, an integrated, social-first technology and data-enabled digital marketing company. Kurio is ranked the 8th most creative agency in the world in the Global Creative Index 2023 by PRovoke Media
Avance advises AVS-Yhtiöt Oy and its owners in the sale of AVS-Power Oy to Beijer Oy, a subsidiary of Beijer Alma AB.
Avance advises Nasdaq Stockholm listed Eolus Vind AB (publ)., engaged in development of renewable energy, in the acquisition of YIT Energy Oy, the renewable energy division of Finland’s largest development and construction company YIT.
EUR 250 million+ debt and equity funding round to expand Valoo’s Finnish fibre rollout
Avance advises Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) as agent for the senior lenders in a debt and equity funding round worth in excess of €250 million for Valoo (Adola Oy), which will help it expand its optical fibre rollout to underserved regions and municipalities in Finland.
CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Valokuitunen closes EUR 400 million refinancing
Avance advises CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Valokuitunen Oy in a financing package close to EUR 400 million, of which EUR 285 million is committed at closing.
JV of Ylva and Varma sells office property in central Helsinki
Avance advises a joint venture formed by Ylva and Varma in the sale of a newly built office and retail property in central Helsinki to Niam.
Hostaway announces $175 million strategic growth investment led by PSG
Avance advises Hostaway, a leading all-in-one vacation rental software and management system, in the $175 million strategic growth investment led by PSG, a leading growth equity firm partnering with software and technology-enabled services companies to help accelerate their growth.
Avance advises the shareholders of Voyantic, the leading provider of test and measurement solutions for RFID inlay and label design and manufacturing, in the sale of the company to Impinj.
Avance advises the sellers in a sale of a majority stake in AutoVex, a leading used car consumer-to-business (C2B) online auction marketplace in Finland, to Schibsted.
Avance advises Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, in a significant investment in Eficode, a leading global provider of DevOps consulting and managed services.
Hemsö acquires hospital in Kouvola
Avance advises Hemsö in the acquisition of the Kymenlaakso Psychiatric Hospital in Kouvola from Kymsote (joint municipal authority for Kymenlaakso social and health services). Kymsote will continue to run the hospital and has signed a 20-year lease agreement.
Echobot and Leadfeeder to merge
Avance advises Leadfeeder and its shareholders in a transaction where Echobot, a leading provider of European sales intelligence, and Leadfeeder, a best-in-class web visitor intelligence platform, agreed to merge, creating a ground-breaking AI-powered sales intelligence and go-to-market platform.
Medical Properties Trust acquires hospital property portfolio
Avance advises NYSE listed Medical Properties Trust, Inc. in the acquisition of a property portfolio of four general acute hospitals in Helsinki, Oulu, Turku and Kuopio for approx. EUR 178 million.
Avance advised Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP) and KKR on the acquisition of a total of a 40% interest in Caruna, the largest electricity distribution network in Finland, from First Sentier Investors.
Clearfield divests Nestor Cables
Avance advises US-listed Clearfield, Inc. on its divestment of Nestor Cables Ltd, a Finnish developer and manufacturer of fiber optic cable solutions, through a management buyout.
Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt acquires Arken
Avance advises Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt Oy in the acquisition of the historical Arken campus from the Åbo Akademi University Foundation for a purchase price of approx. EUR 43 million.
Hemsö acquires the Salpausselkä school property in Lahti
Avance advises Hemsö in the acquisition of the Salpausselkä secondary school, which accommodates 650 students.
Nordisk Renting acquires a healthcare property asset
Avance advises Nordisk Renting in the acquisition of a healthcare property asset from Investors House Oyj and Ovaro Kiinteistösijoitus Oyj for approx. EUR 60 million.
Mehiläinen raises financing led by CVC Capital Partners with Hellman & Friedman as key investors
Avance advises CVC Capital Partners and its portfolio company Mehiläinen in a transaction where international private equity firm Hellman & Friedman joins CVC as a significant investor in Mehiläinen.
VIA equity and Saarni Cloud enter into a strategic partnership
Avance advises VIA equity in its strategic partnership with Saarni Cloud, a SaaS pioneer and the leading provider of HR software solutions in Finland.
NCC divests new public properties project for SEK 900 million
Avance advised NCC Property Development in the divestment of the public properties project Cleantech Garden in Espoo, Finland, comprising approximately 13,750 square meters of lettable area for SEK 900 million.
Neqst to acquire WithSecure’s cyber security consulting business
Avance advises Neqst, a Swedish investment firm specializing in profitable growth companies within the software and IT-services sectors, in its acquisition of the cyber security consulting business currently operated by WithSecure Corporation.
Hostaway raises $365 million growth investment
Avance advises the founders of Hostaway, a leading all-in-one vacation rental software and management system, on a $365 million strategic growth investment in Hostaway led by General Atlantic, with participation from existing investor PSG Equity.
Odevo to acquire Retta Isännöinti
Avance advises Retta Group and Altor Equity Partners in the sale of Retta Isännöinti to Odevo. Retta Isännöinti is Finland’s largest service company in the management of residential and real estate companies, with close to 6,000 customers, 150,000 homes under management and 600 employees.
Mehiläinen repurchases all shares held by LocalTapiola
Avance advises Mehiläinen and its majority owner, CVC Capital Partners, on a transaction whereby Mehiläinen Konserni Oy repurchased all shares held by LocalTapiola in the company as well as the related debt financing arrangements. Prior to the transaction, LocalTapiola owned approximately 20 percent
Combination of Canatu Oy and Lifeline SPAC I Plc
Avance advises Canatu Oy and its shareholders and option holders in the de-SPAC combination of Canatu and Lifeline SPAC I Plc, whereby Lifeline SPAC I acquires all shares and option rights in Canatu by way of a directed share issue consisting of Lifeline SPAC I’s new shares and option rights.
Combination of the share classes of Keskisuomalainen
Avance advises Keskisuomalainen Oyj in connection with the combination of the company's two share classes and related directed share issuance to the holders of former class K shares in the company.
A consortium formed by Apollo and Rettig announces a public tender offer for all shares in Purmo
Avance advises Rettig Oy Ab and the consortium formed by certain affiliated funds of Apollo Global Management and Rettig in relation to the voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all the shares in Purmo Group Plc announced by the consortium’s special purpose vehicle.
Kurio acquired by SAMY Alliance
Avance advises the owners of Kurio, a social-first creative agency, in the sale of Kurio to SAMY Alliance, an integrated, social-first technology and data-enabled digital marketing company. Kurio is ranked the 8th most creative agency in the world in the Global Creative Index 2023 by PRovoke Media
Avance advises AVS-Yhtiöt Oy and its owners in the sale of AVS-Power Oy to Beijer Oy, a subsidiary of Beijer Alma AB.
Avance advises Nasdaq Stockholm listed Eolus Vind AB (publ)., engaged in development of renewable energy, in the acquisition of YIT Energy Oy, the renewable energy division of Finland’s largest development and construction company YIT.
EUR 250 million+ debt and equity funding round to expand Valoo’s Finnish fibre rollout
Avance advises Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) as agent for the senior lenders in a debt and equity funding round worth in excess of €250 million for Valoo (Adola Oy), which will help it expand its optical fibre rollout to underserved regions and municipalities in Finland.
CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Valokuitunen closes EUR 400 million refinancing
Avance advises CapMan Infra’s portfolio company Valokuitunen Oy in a financing package close to EUR 400 million, of which EUR 285 million is committed at closing.
JV of Ylva and Varma sells office property in central Helsinki
Avance advises a joint venture formed by Ylva and Varma in the sale of a newly built office and retail property in central Helsinki to Niam.
Hostaway announces $175 million strategic growth investment led by PSG
Avance advises Hostaway, a leading all-in-one vacation rental software and management system, in the $175 million strategic growth investment led by PSG, a leading growth equity firm partnering with software and technology-enabled services companies to help accelerate their growth.
Avance advises the shareholders of Voyantic, the leading provider of test and measurement solutions for RFID inlay and label design and manufacturing, in the sale of the company to Impinj.
Avance advises the sellers in a sale of a majority stake in AutoVex, a leading used car consumer-to-business (C2B) online auction marketplace in Finland, to Schibsted.
Avance advises Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, in a significant investment in Eficode, a leading global provider of DevOps consulting and managed services.
Hemsö acquires hospital in Kouvola
Avance advises Hemsö in the acquisition of the Kymenlaakso Psychiatric Hospital in Kouvola from Kymsote (joint municipal authority for Kymenlaakso social and health services). Kymsote will continue to run the hospital and has signed a 20-year lease agreement.
Echobot and Leadfeeder to merge
Avance advises Leadfeeder and its shareholders in a transaction where Echobot, a leading provider of European sales intelligence, and Leadfeeder, a best-in-class web visitor intelligence platform, agreed to merge, creating a ground-breaking AI-powered sales intelligence and go-to-market platform.
Medical Properties Trust acquires hospital property portfolio
Avance advises NYSE listed Medical Properties Trust, Inc. in the acquisition of a property portfolio of four general acute hospitals in Helsinki, Oulu, Turku and Kuopio for approx. EUR 178 million.
Avance advised Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP) and KKR on the acquisition of a total of a 40% interest in Caruna, the largest electricity distribution network in Finland, from First Sentier Investors.