Press Release
May 31, 2007 at 11.50 a.m.
Technopolis to acquire a majority in Tampere-based Professia
Technopolis will acquire a majority in the Tampere-based
consultancy and development company, Professia Oy. The share
transaction is planned for the early summer. Technopolis
intends to integrate Professia with Technopolis Ventures, the
group's nationwide business incubator.
Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO of Technopolis, points out
that the acquisition of Professia will significantly enhance
Technopolis's nationwide network. From now on, Technopolis will
be able to provide high-quality business incubation and
development services in all those areas in Finland where the
parent company also operates. The transaction will also make
Technopolis's total business development expertise and
operating concepts available to Tampere customers.
The acquisition is also important in that, through Professia,
Technopolis Ventures will gain plenty of expertise in service
businesses and their development. 'Technopolis Ventures can
utilize this expertise and make it available to its customers
throughout Finland,' notes Huuskonen.
Evidence of the excellent service concept of Technopolis
Ventures was provided by the just completed national Venture
Cup business plan competition, in which all three first prizes
were awarded to business ideas coached in Technopolis's pre-
incubation program. All-in-all, 93 proposals were entered in
the competition from all over Finland. The main sponsors of the
Venture Cup are the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Tekes (the
Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) and
McKinsey & Company.
'Technopolis will strengthen the business development
operations of Professia and open up possibilities to spread
service business concepts more widely in Finland and abroad,'
says Arja Ropo, Chairman of the Board of Professia, and Vice
Rector of the University of Tampere.
According to Pertti Huuskonen, negotiations on the new
ownership structure for Professia have advanced in a very
positive spirit. The development company is currently owned by
the City of Tampere, the Tampere University Foundation, Nokia,
Fujitsu, Alma Media, Elisa, Finnvera and the Tasku I private
equity fund administered by Sentica Partners.
As a result of the transaction, Technopolis will become the
company's biggest shareholder with a 50.5 percent holding. The
other shareholders will continue to be Nokia, Fujitsu, the
Tampere University Foundation and the City of Tampere. The city
has planned to sell some of its shares to Technopolis as part
of the whole transaction.
Technopolis Ventures Oy, the largest business incubator in
Finland, serves hi-tech and knowledge-based enterprises and
currently operates in Espoo, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu and
Vantaa. More than 200 enterprises participated in its
development programs in 2006. The company operates on a non-
profit basis.
For further information, please contact:
Technopolis Plc,
Pertti Huuskonen, President and CEO, +358 400 680 816
In terms of the number of customer companies, Technopolis Plc
is one of Europe's largest technology centers. It is also
Finland's largest company that specializes in providing
operating environments for high tech companies and offers a
comprehensive service package combining modern premises and
business and development services. Technopolis operates in
Espoo, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Vantaa in
Finland, and in St. Petersburg in Russia. Some 12,000 people
from 930 companies are currently working in its technology
centers. The company's shares are quoted on the mid cap list of
the Nordic Exchange.
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