SaiPa’s ownership group has faced a surprising turn of events among themselves, which is being feverishly investigated behind the scenes.
SaiPalla runs on the field. Mikko Lieri / AOP
The joint venture of the new owners of the ice hockey championship league club Lappeenranta’s SaiPa has not gotten off to a rosy start in all respects.
SaiPa, which was in a serious sporting and financial situation, was sold in March 2024 to Lätkä Lentää oy. Ville Rämä.
As Iltalehti reported at the end of last year, SaiPa’s new owners eventually became a wider group of people and companies who committed to invest a total of around 1.8 million euros in the ice hockey club.
Rämä had to capitalize the club with clearly the largest amount, a total of 700,000 euros.
According to information from Iltalehti, despite the agreement, Rämä has not made an investment of up to 561,000 euros.
The protocol submitted to the Patent and Registration Board certifies that Ville Rämä committed to invest more than half a million euros in the Lätkä Lentää company by the turn of the year. Mikko Lieri / AOP, Screenshot
Additional investment
According to Rämä’s promise to Lätkä Lentää oy, i.e. in practice SaiPa, he had to transfer EUR 561,000 to Lätkä Lentää oy by December 31.
This money has not been seen.
Lätkä Lentää oy raised 1.8 million euros in financing for SaiPa through an arrangement where the current shareholders first gave a loan of 1.191 million euros as bridge financing. Rämä’s share of this was 139,000 euros.
The loans were converted into an investment in Lätkä Lentää oy’s equity, and the lenders received a share of the company corresponding to the amount of money.
When Rämä’s commitment of an additional investment of 561,000 euros was added to this arrangement, the amount had to be just under 1.8 million.
However, according to Iltalehti’s information, SaiPa’s financial situation is not in danger because of this.
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Rämä told about himself and SaiPa’s departure to the local newspaper South Saimaa in June.
– It has been known from the beginning that this is not likely to produce anything financially, but it is also clear that sacrifices can be made for such an issue without financial benefit, Rämä told Etelä-Saimaa.
Rämä is SaiPa’s former junior. According to Etelä Saimaa, today Rämä works under a partnership agreement as the regional manager of Alexandria Group in Lappeenranta, and in February he bought a fish processing plant in the fishing village of Pykeija in northern Norway.
– I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t been able to release energy with my teammates as a young snot. SaiPa is a challenge, the risks of which I understand and internalize, but the fear of failure does not guide me.
Rämä drove away from the interview in Etelä Saimaa in a Bentley Bentayga SUV that cost a six-figure sum. Rämä has also spoken about the ownership of the league club For Kauppalehti.
Rämä is one of the largest owners of Lätkä Lentää oy, with a share of just under 12 percent. Lätkä Lentää oy owns 98.85 percent of Liiga-SaiPa oy’s shares. Rämä sits on SaiPa’s board.
Iltalehti could not reach Rämä for an interview on Tuesday.
Raipe whips
SaiPalla runs on the field. Having maintained a high standard in training since the summer Raimo Helminen the team is in third place in the league, with a good two-thirds of the 60-match regular season played.
SaiPa has collected 75 points from 43 matches. Earlier in the season, the team was even at the top of the league and on a 14-game winning streak.
Despite the weaker period after the winning streak, the series ranking has remained good, as there have been no more than two losses in a row.
Before the season, SaiPa announced its player budget of two million euros, which was the fourth smallest in the league of 16 teams.
For the top spots in the series, SaiPa is clearly struggling with more moneyed clubs.
SaiPa will face Vaasan Sport away in their next match on Wednesday.