Jarle’s core practice area is M&A. He covers the full spectrum of corporate transactions and has acted in several high profile transactions during the last 25 years. The major part of his work relates to cross-border transactions, and he frequently assists international, Nordic and local buy-out funds as well as industrial players.
Jarle is qualified to practice in Norway, Denmark, England and Wales, and holds an MBA from Henley Management College, giving him an edge not only to advice on legal aspects, but also to strategic and commercial aspects of the transactions.
Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 have ranked Jarle as a leading Norwegian M&A lawyer. He is also the founder of Nordic Buy Out Forum which is the largest M&A conference in the Nordics.
Awards, Work experience, Memberships and Education
- Highly regarded, IFLR1000, Private equity, 2024
- Band 2, Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2024
- Band 2, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A, 2024
- Band 2, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A, 2023
- Band 2, Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2023
- Highly regarded, IFLR1000, Corporate M&A and Private equity, 2023
- Band 2, Chambers Global, Corporate M&A – Norway, 2022
- Band 2, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A – Norway, 2021
- Band 1, Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2020
- Partner, Wiersholm, 2003
- Partner, Wikborg, Rein & Co, 2000
- Senior Associate, Wikborg, Rein & Co, 1997
- Lawyer, Gorrissen Federspiel, 1994
- Associate/Lawyer, Jonas Bruun, 1989
- Duty Officer, UN's peace keeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), 1986
- Head, International Committtee, 2021
- Chairperson, Wiersholm, 2014, 2016
- Head, International Committtee, 2010, 2014
- Solicitor of England and Wales, College of law, 1998
- Master of Business Administration, Henley Management College, 1996
- Cand. Jur., University of Copenhagen, 1989
- Lawyer practicing certificate
- Officers' training school in the Norwegian Airforce, Norwegian Airforce, 1982
Selected projects
Assistance to Orkla Health and Orkla ASA in connection with Orkla Health AS' acquistion of all the shares of NutraQ (Ultimate shareholders are Impilo and Sana Pharma and minority shareholders, including key employees). NutraQ is involved in sale, marketing and online subscription of health food products such as VitaePro and Oslo Skin Lab. NutraQ employs people in the Nordics and are building up its operations in other European countries. Currently it has approximately 410 000 active subscriptions. The company’s turnover totalled NOK 862m (EUR 82.36m) in 2020 and EBITDA of NOK 188m (EUR 17.97m).
Assistance to Orkla ASA in connection with the acquisition of 100 % of the shares in Norgesplaster Holding AS. Wiersholm advised the client throughout the entire acquisition process, including conducting due diligence on legal and regulatory matters, advising on competition law, the transaction structure and drafting and negotiating the transaction agreements. The transaction means that Orkla Wound Care (part of Orkla Care) strengthens its presence in the pharmacy channel and the market for first aid products. Norgesplaster is the market leader in wound care in the pharmacy channel in Norway, in addition to being one of the world’s largest manufacturers of adhesive foil for the production of pressure sensitive ECG electrodes and grounding pads.
Assistance to BentallGreen Oak (BGO), a global real estate investment manager, in connection with its investment in Bulk Infrastructure AS, a Nordic data center, fiber network developer and operator, and logistics real estate developer. BentallGreen Oak enters as a strategic partner and investor, and joins main shareholders, Bulk Industrier and Geveran, in securing capital for the company’s future growth, with a series of capital injections from BGO and existing shareholders that will take place from January, 2021.
Assistance to Kverva Industrier and Pesca Property AS shareholders in connection with Storm Real Estate acquiring 100% of KMC Properties. Kverva Industrier own more than 95% of Pesca Properties, who again own shares in KMC. After the merger between Pesca and KMC, Kverva own approx. 45-47%. The merged company's portfolio consists of 40 properties covering 330 000 sqm with a value of more than MEUR 330. The transaction further leads to a private placement and NOK 1.85 bn through a secured bond.
Assisted Compass Group with its acquisition of Fazer Food Services from Fazer Group for an enterprise value of approximately €475 million
Assisted Herkules Private Equity Fund III, through its subsidiary Puzzel Holding AS, in connection with the sale of Puzzel AS to Marlin Equity Partners
Assistance to Kverva in connection with the acquisition of the aquaculture equipment firm Aqualine AS and combining Aqualine with other assets owned by Kverva under the umbrella of Kverva Technology. The transaction combined the ownership of the newly acquired Aqualine with that of Steinsvik Group AS, another aquaculture equipment firm owned by Kverva. The new group will have a combined revenue of NOK 1.5 billion and approximately 700 employees. Wiersholm also assisted in the refinancing of the group, including acquisition financing.