Swedish pension insurance company AMF has sold its 33.3% stake in Mercada to The K-Retailers’ Association. The K-Retailers’ Association is a cooperative organization representing K-retailers in Finland, ensuring the interests of its 1,000 members. One of its primary objectives is to enhance and support the entrepreneurial capabilities of K-retailers. The association also holds 5.46% of shares in Kesko and controls 14% of the voting rights.
Mercada is a company that owns, manages, and develops commercial properties, primarily used by the Kesko Group. Its property portfolio consists of three shopping centers and 32 other retail locations across Finland. The shopping centers owned by Mercada include Veturi in Kouvola, Karisma in Lahti, and Merituuli in Espoo. These locations collectively house 15 K-Citymarkets, 16 K-Supermarkets, one K-Market, and two K-Rauta stores. Kesko is the primary tenant of Mercada’s properties, accounting for approximately 80% of its gross rental income through long-term lease agreements.
Below is list of properties (source: Mercada’s annual report):
| Shopping Center Karisma, Lahti | K-Citymarket, Rauma | K-Supermarket Haukipudas, Oulu |
| Shopping Center Veturi, Kouvola | K-Citymarket, Koivukylä, Vantaa | K-Supermarket, Pihtipudas |
| Shopping Center Merituuli, Espoo | K-Citymarket, Äänekoski | K-Supermarket Mannankatu, Rauma |
| K-Citymarket Malmi, Helsinki | K-MarketTorpparinmäki, Helsinki | K-Supermarket Mertala, Savonlinna |
| K-Citymarket, Imatra | K-Supermarket, Huittinen | K-Supermarket, Sodankylä |
| K-Citymarket, Kankaanpää | K-Supermarket, Jalasjärvi | K-Supermarket, Oulunkylä, Helsinki |
| K-Citymarket, Kauhajoki | K-Supermarket, Järvenpää | K-Rauta Oulunkylä, Helsinki |
| K-Citymarket, Kokkola | K-Supermarket, Kangasala | K-Rauta, Kauhajoki |
| K-Citymarket, Päivoranta, Kuopio | K-Supermarket, Kempele | |
| K-Citymarket, Lieksa | K-Supermarket Veikkola, Kirkkonummi | |
| K-Citymarket, Loimaa | K-Supermarket Kankaro, Kouvola | |
| K-Citymarket, Mäntsälä | K-Supermarket Kuhmo |
Mercada was established in June 2015 following Kesko Oyj’s divestment of certain properties to the company. By the end of 2023, Mercada reported rental income of €44.1 million, with a total leasable area of 290,000 square meters. The company’s financial statements indicated that the portfolio’s fair market value stood at €653 million as of December 2023.
Advium acted as the advisor to AMF in this transaction.