Nippon Sport is one of the top distributors and importers of martial arts and fitness products in the Nordic countries. Their CEO, Antti Sundquist, decided that the acquisition would allow them to grow their business and reach new markets. Antti heard about the Voitto Group through a friend and decided to contact them for support in the acquisition process.
At the first meeting, the Voitto Group team impressed me with their openness and professionalism. Together with Nippon Sport, they agreed that Voitto Group would help the company to evaluate the potential acquisition target and manage the negotiation process. This was part of Voitto Group’s Agile Financial Management, a service designed for SMEs that provides comprehensive financial management support.
With the help of Voitto Group, Nippon Sport received professional guidance and support at every stage of the acquisition. An important part of this was the due diligence process, which reviews the operational, financial and legal aspects of the company. Nippon Sport benefited from Voitto Group’s experience in conducting a lighter review process, focusing on financial analysis and operational risks. “The review process was comprehensive and well planned. Many issues that would have been overlooked were identified with the help of Voitto Group,” says Antti Sundquist.
The Voitto Group team also brought structure and order to the whole acquisition process. Their role as an external “moderator” helped to ensure that things proceeded in a planned manner and stayed on schedule. This was particularly important as a takeover can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride, where negotiations can drag on or end without warning. Voitto Group’s consistent support ensured that the Nippon Sport acquisition went smoothly. “Voitto Group brought structure to the process! The external support ensures that things progress on schedule and that all the necessary documents are submitted,” Antti says.
Voitto Group’s support also extended to the negotiations and the drafting of the purchase agreement. Their experience helped to smooth the negotiations and ensure that the transaction document met the needs of both Nippon Sport and the seller. Challenging situations may have arisen during the negotiations, but the Voitto Group team helped to handle them in a consistent and clear manner. Antti Sundquist says: “Negotiations throughout the process went well. Voitto Group provided just the right amount of support, and even challenging issues were easier to handle when the facts were presented clearly.”
Finally, the Voitto Group assisted Nippon Sport in the drafting of the purchase document. The transaction document can be simple, but it must cover all the essential points, such as risks and taxation. Voitto Group’s expertise helped to ensure that the transaction document was mutually satisfactory and took into account all potential risks. “Voitto Group’s support in drafting the deed was invaluable. Without them, we would not have been able to take into account all the important details,” says Antti.
