Investment bank uses Ideals for global M&A deals due to its simple user interface and efficiency

Overview

Nordic Growth, a global investment bank based in Finland, offers comprehensive financial services to corporate management, investors and company owners.

The company considered several data room providers for its sell-side M&A projects before choosing Ideals for its intuitiveness and ease of use. “We also appreciate Ideals’ transparent pricing,” says Matias Pönniö, Head of Analysis at Nordic Growth.

The context

Founded in Finland in 2005, Nordic Growth provides independent investment banking services, including mergers and acquisitions, deal structuring, capital raising, strategic and financial advisory, company valuation, and direct equity investments.

One of its key offerings is sell-side M&A services, for which it needed an easy-to-use tool that would help it collaborate with global investors.

“Being able to find information quickly is crucial,” says Matias. “So often with other VDRs, clients or partners would get impatient with how long it took to find information or they couldn’t understand how to do something so they would ask the team.”

Key challenges

A key factor was to find a simple platform that global stakeholders would be able to use with minimum training. “Advisors want ease of use and relevant features,” says Matias.

As such, their key requirements included:

• An intuitive user experience
• Different permission levels to control access 
• Relevant features such as efficient search within documents and a robust Q&A section
• Good customer service with fast response times
• A transparent pricing structure

Matias also wanted to work with a VDR provider that was transparent on costs. “We’ve had some issues with unclear pricing models, which created extra work and hassle,” he explains.

Solutions

Ideals had the intuitive user interface and excellent customer service that Matias wanted. Using the platform the M&A team could:

• Navigate the platform speedily and efficiently
• Allocate different permission levels
• Invite users from anywhere in the world
• Track all activity on the platform

Matias was also impressed by the clarity of the Ideals subscription costs. “It’s not something you necessarily see with all providers, especially regarding per page charging models.”

The future

Matias is very happy to continue using Ideals, particularly as the VDR continues to improve. “If I compare it to other data room providers, feature-wise, Ideals is very good.” 

Asked for his top three reasons for preferring Ideals he lists:

• Ease of use
• Features that streamline M&A processes
• Return on investment 

“I really want to stress how much of a difference it makes having such a user-friendly interface,” says Matias. “With Ideals we don’t waste any time finding documents for people or explaining how the VDR works.”

“Every project we’ve had with you has been good. It’s always easy and efficient. So I guess that’s why we’re still customers!”