Freshfields advises Geely on the successful closing of the Saxo Bank sale

Global law firm Freshfields has advised Geely Financials Denmark A/S on the successful closing of the sale of its 49.88% stake in Saxo Bank A/S to Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG.

Saxo Bank A/S is a Danish provider of multi-asset trading and investment solutions, organized as a fully licensed bank under the supervision of the Danish FSA and holding broker and banking licenses in multiple jurisdictions.

Following the signing of the transaction on 10 March 2025 and the receipt of all regulatory approvals, Switzerland-based Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG successfully acquired approximately 71% of Saxo Bank A/S on 2 March 2026. This stake was previously held by Geely Financials Denmark A/S (49.88%), Mandatum plc (19.83%) and other minority shareholders.

The Freshfields team was led by Partner Robin Helmke (Corporate/Capital Markets), Principal Associate Jan Biermann (Financial Services M&A, both Frankfurt) and Associate Bruno Gebhardi (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg) and further included Partners Janina Heinz (Financial Regulatory, Frankfurt), Ilka Oberländer (Antitrust, Munich) and Andy Robinson (Corporate/M&A, London) as well as Principal Associates Jan Struckmann, Nikita Grätsch (both Financial Regulatory, Frankfurt) and Associate Nico Kiekebusch (Antitrust, Berlin).