Vinge sees positive signs on the Nordic M&A market!

6 Oct, 2003 18:41 CET

Vinge keeps its leading position as the most retained legal advisor in
the Nordic region. According to mergermarket's publicised ranking of
major M&A transactions in the Nordic region during the first nine months
of the year Vinge positions itself as number one. In the ranking of all
of Europe Vinge, as the only Nordic law firm to make the list, positions
itself with a 17th place on the list among Europe's most called upon M&A
law firms.

As evident from the latest statistics from mergermarket's the Nordic
market for major M&A transactions has begun to show positive signs.
During the first nine months of the year Vinge has noted a clear
increase in the number of transactions. With 36 transactions Vinge tops
the list of the Nordic regions most called upon legal advisors.
The individual ranking of legal advisers finds four Vinge-lawyers among
the top 15 most sought after with Vinge lawyers Johan Cederlund and
Johan Göthberg occupying the two top positions. The significance of the
increase of the Öresund region is demonstrated by the movement of Peter
Linderoth of Vinge Malmoe up to the fifth place of the individual
ranking.
The recovery of the Nordic M&A market is also evident from Vinge's 17th
place on the list of Europe most called upon legal advisors.

- The development of the M&A market is definitely looking brighter, even
if it might be too early to speak about a trend. The fact that Vinge not
only kept its leading position in the Nordic region, but also recaptured
a position among the most utilised law firms in Europe can be seen as a
sign of strength, both for Vinge and for the Nordic M&A-market, says
Michael Wigge, managing partner at Vinge Stockholm in a statement.

Vinge is one of the Nordic regions largest law firms, with approximately
445 employees of which around 275 are lawyers. The business is fully
concentrated on business law, whereas a essential part constitutes
international commissions of Mergers and Acqusitions and Corporate
Finance.

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For further information please contact: Michael Wigge, tel.: +46 8-614
30 56,070-714 30 56,  . or Fredrik von Baumgarten,
tel.: +46 8-614 31 07, 070-714 31 07,  .

mergermarket is an English company that continuously compiles
information regarding sales of a businesses and other transactions made
on the European market. For more information visit www.mergermarket.com.

mergermarket league table (by volume) of legal advisers advising on
transactions in Europe(1) over EUR 5m in the period 01 Jan 2003 - 30
September 2003

2003 House Value (EURm) No of deals
1 Clifford Chance 112,011 153
2 Linklaters 97,467 137
3 Allen & Overy 74,111 118
4 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 85,194 106
5 Ashurst Morris Crisp 28,993 80
6 Eversheds 3,404 67
7 CMS 15,659 64
8 Herbert Smith, Gleiss Lutz , Stibbe 34,418 60
9 Lovells 13,071 60
10 Jones Day Gouldens 21,314 58
11 DLA Group (formerly DLA & Partners) 2,127 53
12 Slaughter and May 34,446 46
13 Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom 71,020 45
14 Baker & McKenzie 4,931 43
15 White & Case 17,616 41
16 Shearman & Sterling LLP 29,004 38
17 Vinge 2,530 38
18 Macfarlanes 13,826 36
19 Hengeler Mueller 12,943 36
20 Osborne Clarke 2,012 36

mergermarket league table (by volume) of legal advisers advising on
deals in the Nordic Region(4) over EUR 5m in the period 01 Jan 2003 - 30
September 2003

2003 Company Name Value (EURm) No of Deals
1 Vinge 1,969 36
2 Mannheimer Swartling 6,319 31
3 Linklaters 5,696 16
4 Roschier Holmberg 3,426 16
5 Hannes Snellman 1,072 10
6 Kromann Reumert 5,143 9
7 White & Case 1,816 9
8 Thommessen Krefting Greve Lund 6,578 8
9 Bech-Bruun Dragsted 963 8
10 Gorrissen Federspiel Kierkegaard 1,165 7


mergermarket league table (by volume) of legal advisers advising on
deals in the Nordic Region(4) over EUR 5m in the period 01 Jan 2003 - 30
September 2003

2003 Advisor Type Current House No of
deals
1 Johan Cederlund Corporate Vinge 6
2 Johan Göthberg Corporate Vinge 6
3 Kaj Swanljung Corporate Roschier Holmberg 4
4 Göran Nyström Corporate Mannheimer 4
Swartling
5 Peter Linderoth Corporate Vinge 4
6 Kim Dobrowen Corporate Thommessen 3
7 Tom Hård Corporate Mannheimer 3
Swartling
8 Peter O'Driscoll Corporate, Coudert Brotheras 3
Financing
9 Juhani Makinen Corporate Hannes Snellman 3
10 Johan Aalto Corporate Hannes Snellman 3
11 Dimitrios Himonas Corporate Roschier Holmberg 3
12 Ulf-Henrik Kull Corporate Roschier Holmberg 3
13 Fredrik von Baumgarten Corporate Vinge 3
14 Mika Ståhlberg Corporate Krogerus & Co 3
15 Lars Jonsson Tax Linklaters 3





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