Shearman & Sterling advised Marlin Equity Partners and their portfolio company COYO on the financing of the acquisition of Smarp, a Finnish SaaS (Software as a Service) company. The two companies form a new global Top 5 software provider in the employee communications and engagement space.

The transaction has been supported by Marlin Equity Partners, a global investment firm with over $7.6 billion of capital under management. At the same time, the management and founders of Smarp and COYO as well as Smarp’s largest investor, Nauta Capital from London, will be investing in the new firm.

COYO is a leading German provider of employee communications software headquartered in Hamburg. COYO offers companies an intuitive and centralized solution that makes it easy to reach all employees, improve internal communication and promote a culture of feedback.

The Team