Eversheds Attorneys Ltd. legal advisor in major infrastructure project of Finavia Oyj and Enontekiö municipality

Eversheds Attorneys Ltd. has acted as legal advisor for the municipality of Enontekiö in a revolutionary infrastructure arrangement which will change the aviation business. Eversheds Attorneys has provided legal, financial and taxation advice for the planning and execution of the transaction and been responsible for the entire due diligence process.
 
On 16 November 2020, airport operator Finavia and the municipality of Enontekiö completed a transaction in which the airport of Enontekiö and its operations will be transferred to the ownership of a company to be established by the municipality. This transaction enables the continuation of operations in the airport of Enontekiö, with the airport playing a major role in connecting Enontekiö with Finnish and global travellers. Eversheds Attorneys will continue to advise the municipality in the following phases of the project.  

“This investment is a major step for Enontekiö and will bring more possibilities for the region to develop the area for new investments and prosperity for the region. Enontekiö is very unique and has great potential as a travel destination and as a place to live. Eversheds Attorneys has played a key role in facilitating the process and advising us through the transaction process,” comments Jari Rantapelkonen, Chief Executive of Enontekiö.
 
“This transaction enables a new actor in the region, and together with major public sector investments private international and local partners will be invited to bring in new business concepts, ideas and financing of new investments in the region. The revolution in air traffic creates a good opportunity to plan future operations,” says Jukka-Pekka Joensuu, Eversheds Attorneys’ Partner responsible for the legal assignment.
 
Partner Jukka-Pekka Joensuu, Specialist Counsels Kirsi Hiltunen, Elina Kiiski, Henrik Sandholm and Jussi Aranne, Senior Associate Tuuli Vapaavuori-Vartiainen and Associates Linda Miettinen and Jukka Olsbo worked on the assignment. The team also included Senior Advisor Antti Liimatainen and Analyst Max Tarkkala.
 
The municipality of Enontekiö is located on the Norwegian and Swedish border and is the third largest municipality in Finland by area. Tourism is the main industry in Enontekiö, followed by reindeer husbandry and natural industries, services and small-scale processing activity and scientific research.
 
Finavia is an airport operator with a network of 21 airports around Finland. Of these, 19 are for passenger traffic and two serve only military and general aviation. The aim of the company is to bring Finns the best air connections in Northern Europe and promote Finland’s accessibility as a travel destination.