Carner Corporate Finance

What Carner Corporate Finance does

Carner Corporate Finance is an independent, Helsinki-headquartered corporate finance advisory firm, founded in 2004, specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions and growth capital advisory. The firm operates across four primary sectors — ICT & Technology, Business Services, Niche Industrials, and Retail & Consumer Services — and serves four core client segments: entrepreneurs and family business owners preparing for exits or succession, private equity firms seeking acquisition targets and exit advice, corporations executing strategic M&A, and growth-stage companies raising capital. Services encompass sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, financial structuring, equity story development, transaction negotiation, and cross-border deal execution.

The business model is fee-based professional services, with engagement-specific pricing structured as a combination of retainers and success fees aligned to transaction completion. Carner does not sell a software product or proprietary technology platform; its value proposition rests on senior banker expertise, sector specialization, and international reach. The firm is a partner office in IMAP, a global M&A partnership with 60+ offices across 51 countries and 450+ M&A professionals, which provides the international buyer and investor network that supports Carner's cross-border deal flow.

Carner is privately held and management-led, with three visible Partners (Mikko Sistonen, Anssi Sampo, Harri Roos) and two Directors (Samuel Saloheimo, Timo Nuorla). The firm was named Finland Financial Advisor of the Year 2025 at the Mergermarket Europe Awards, and reports that over 60% of its transactions are cross-border, with deals completed across 18 countries. Recent mandates include CoreGo (Bregal Milestone growth investment), Lohkare Infra (Triton buy-and-build), VB Group (sale to Corteco), ParkMan (Hawk Infinity / Armada Credit Partners), and Nordic Bioproducts Group (Oji Holdings minority investment).

Name

Carner Corporate Finance

Legal name

Carner

Website

https://carner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carner Corporate Finance is an independent Helsinki-based M&A advisory firm founded in 2004, serving Finnish entrepreneurs, family businesses, corporates, and private equity firms with sector-focused mid-market mergers and acquisitions and growth capital advisory, leveraging the IMAP global partnership for cross-border execution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)

Keywords

• M&A advisory
• Corporate finance advisory
• Sell-side advisory
• Buy-side advisory
• Growth capital advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Services: Carner generates revenue through professional M&A advisory fees, including sell-side and buy-side mandates, growth capital advisory, and strategic transaction consulting. Their fees typically follow a success-fee model common in the M&A advisory industry, aligned with transaction completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carner Corporate Finance is an independent Finnish corporate finance advisory firm specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions advisory. The firm provides sell-side and buy-side advisory, growth capital advisory, financial structuring, and cross-border transaction execution for entrepreneurs, family businesses, corporates, and private equity firms. Services are organized around sector-focused expertise in ICT & Technology, Business Services, Niche Industrials, and Retail & Consumer Services, and are delivered through the firm's partnership in the IMAP global M&A network.

Product overview

Carner Corporate Finance is an independent Finnish corporate finance advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, sell-side and buy-side advisory, growth capital advisory, and international transactions. The firm does not offer a software product; its services are advisory-based, encompassing M&A transaction execution, financial structuring, deal negotiation, and strategic advisory for entrepreneurs, family businesses, corporates, and private equity firms. Services are organized around sector-focused expertise in ICT & Technology, Business Services, Niche Industrials, and Retail & Consumer Services, delivered through a global network of partner offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sell-Side M&A Advisory Advisory mandate supporting business owners and shareholders through the preparation, marketing, negotiation, and closing of company sale transactions. Targeted at Finnish and Nordic mid-market entrepreneurs, family businesses, and corporates seeking to divest businesses or exit ownership positions.
• Buy-Side M&A Advisory Advisory mandate supporting corporate and financial buyers in identifying, evaluating, structuring, and closing acquisition transactions in Finland and the Nordics. Includes target sourcing, valuation, due diligence coordination, and negotiation support.
• Growth Capital Advisory Advisory mandate supporting companies and their shareholders in raising growth equity from financial investors. Recent engagements include advising CoreGo on its majority growth investment from Bregal Milestone and Nordic Bioproducts Group on a 20% strategic minority investment from Oji Holdings.
• Cross-Border Transaction Advisory Advisory mandate supporting clients on cross-border M&A, leveraging the IMAP global partnership of 60+ offices across 51 countries to access international buyers and investors. Over 60% of Carner's transactions are cross-border, with deals completed in 18 countries.
• Buy-and-Build Platform Advisory Advisory mandate supporting private equity-backed platforms and corporates in executing buy-and-build strategies through multiple acquisitions. Recent engagements include advising Triton Partners on the Lohkare Infra platform (~EUR 400M annual revenue) and Habeo Group (with Triton Partners) forming a ~EUR 130 million revenue building technology group with ~600 professionals.
• Financial Structuring and Transaction Negotiation Advisory support covering deal structuring, equity story development, valuation, and negotiation as part of broader M&A mandates for entrepreneurs, family businesses, corporates, and private equity firms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60% of transactions are cross-border, demonstrating international reach
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered key, notable and core.

• DevCokeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Long-term active owner and development partner dedicated to building world-leading companies in niche markets. Carner advised DevCo on the formation of a global piling and foundation equipment platform combining Dieseko, Movax, and Watson & Hillhouse.
• CoreGo OynotableOthers · 29 April 2026Finnish payment and event technology company that Carner advised on its majority growth investment from Bregal Milestone. Founded in 2015, CoreGo operates across the Nordics and DACH region serving approximately 250 customers.
• IMAP (International M&A Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarner is a member of IMAP, a global M&A partnership with a 50-year track record, 2,200+ transactions completed, and operations across 51 countries with 450+ M&A professionals. IMAP ranks among the world's top 10 mid-market advisors (Refinitiv) and consistently ranks among the top 3 in diverse regions. The partnership provides Carner with international deal execution capabilities and access to global investor networks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hampleton Partners: Hampleton is an international M&A advisory specializing in technology and software, overlapping directly with Carner's ICT sector focus. Both firms target Nordic SaaS, fintech, and software-enabled businesses for sell-side and growth capital mandates.
• Clipperton: Clipperton is a European tech-focused M&A advisory firm that, like Carner, specializes in technology and software transactions. It represents a direct competitor in the pan-European/Nordic tech M&A space where Carner has built notable credentials (CoreGo, Neagen, ParkMan).
• Oaklins: Oaklins is a global mid-market M&A advisory with strong Nordic presence (offices in Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, Copenhagen) and deep sector specialization, directly competing with Carner for sell-side, buy-side, and growth capital mandates in Finland and the broader Nordics.
• Summa Capital: Summa Capital is a Finnish corporate finance advisor active in M&A, growth capital, and restructuring. It is a direct Finnish competitor to Carner for sell-side and buy-side mandates in the local mid-market.
• Carnegie Investment Bank: Carnegie is a leading Nordic investment bank with a strong corporate finance / M&A advisory franchise, particularly in Sweden and the broader Nordics. It competes directly with Carner for mid-market M&A mandates and PE-backed transactions in the region.
• Clearwater International: Clearwater International is a global mid-market M&A advisory with Nordic offices, specializing in transactions up to €500M. It directly competes with Carner for Finnish and Nordic sell-side and buy-side mandates across diversified sectors.
• Aventum Partners (formerly FIM Corporate Finance): Aventum Partners is a Finnish corporate finance advisor providing M&A and capital markets advisory, overlapping directly with Carner's service offerings to entrepreneurs, corporates, and PE firms in Finland.

Broad incumbents

• Stout: Stout is a global advisory firm with a strong European M&A practice and dedicated Nordic coverage. It competes with Carner in mid-market transactions and offers integrated services (valuation, due diligence) that independent Nordic advisors must partner to deliver.
• EY-Parthenon Finland: EY-Parthenon operates a Transactions and Corporate Finance practice in Finland that competes with Carner on mid-market M&A mandates, offering broader consulting capabilities and access to global EY network resources.
• KPMG Finland Corporate Finance: KPMG Finland's Deal Advisory / Corporate Finance practice competes with Carner for mid-market M&A and due diligence mandates, leveraging Big Four scale, integrated service lines, and global buyer network access.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carner-corporate-finance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carner Corporate Finance