Even though the use of the term license agreement in the context of software has been globally accepted for ages, some lawmakers actually have something else in mind. A license agreement under Croatian law doesn’t actually apply to software per se, as common knowledge might imply. It applies to inventions, know-how, trademarks, and other so-called industrial property rights.

Deloitte Legal has advised Marketing Investment Group on the acquisition of a chain of 22 stores in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ostermann & Partners, working with Herbert Smith Freehills, has advised Gamepires on its sale to Jagex. Wolf Theiss advised Jagex on the acquisition.

Former Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka Partner Martina Kalamiza Grozdek has joined Lovric Novokmet & Partners (formerly Lovric Novokmet Smrcek) as Partner and Head of the Banking & Finance practice.

BDK Advokati has advised Croatia's Agez Group on its acquisition of a 60% stake in Serbian printing and graphics company Grafostil.

Krehic & Partners in cooperation with Deloitte Legal, working with Deloitte Legal UK, has advised Syskit Croatia and its Croatian shareholders on the sale of their shares to Cade Hill Investments-funded Syskit UK. Cipcic-Bragadin Mesic & Associates, working with Mills & Reeve, advised the buyer.

On December 6, 2022, Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka announced that Merkur Osiguranje’s acquisition of Wustenrot Zivotno Osiguranje (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 26, 2022) had closed.

December will be a turbulent month in terms of legislation in Croatia, according to Miskovic & Miskovic Partner Iva Miskovic, as the parliament is addressing considerable changes in the fields of labor and trade law, while the transition to the euro enters into force on January 1.

Kinstellar Croatian affiliate Zuric i Partneri has advised Insite's former shareholders on the sale of their shares in the company to Halcom. Gugic, Kovacic & Krivic reportedly advised the buyer.

On November 10, four Banking & Finance experts from Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss banking consolidation, financing availability, the effects of high interest rates, bank capitalization, green financing, the specter of loan restructuring, and the other challenges the sector is facing.

On November 25, 2022, Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka announced that Entain’s acquisition of the SuperSport Group from Emma Capital (reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 18, 2022) had closed.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr has advised Integral Venture Partners on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Chips Way alongside co-investor and industrial partner Nelt Group. Vukina & Partners advised sellers Jagoda Bajevic, Dobroslav Barbaric, Ivana Vujcic, Matko Dropuljic, Vlatko Barbaric, Djordje Dragicevic, Ivana Einfalt, and Tomislav Bajevic.

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka and Tus & Grzic have advised Prvo Plinarsko Drustvo and INA, respectively, on the sale of their stakes in joint-venture company Terra Mineral Fertilizer to the Yildirim Group. CMS advised the Yildirim Group.

Contributed by Ostermann.

Batarelo Dvojkovic Vuchetich has advised Provectus Capital Partners on the investment – through its Adria Dental Group subsidiary – in the Dentum Dental Clinic in Zagreb. Pavlicek Ergarac Medved reportedly advised the sellers.

High levels of M&A activity in Croatia, originating from both domestic companies and foreign investors, are reshaping a number of sectors – primarily IT and media – according to Tarja Krehic, Managing Partner of Krehic & Partners in cooperation with Deloitte Legal.

Harmonized rules ensuring smooth functioning of the EU Digital Internal Market finally have finally come into existence. Instead of 27 different legal requirements there will be only one set of rules regulating digital market and services in the EU –namely, the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.

Drakopoulos has advised the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy on reviewing the transposition process of Directive 2018/2001 (RED II) on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources into the Greek legal framework. Dimitrov Petrov & Co, Kirm Perpar, Wardynski & Partners, and Kinstellar Croatian affiliate Zuric i Partneri advised on the transposition review in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Poland, and Croatia, respectively. CLM Bitai & Partners and Vojcik & Partners also reportedly advised the European Commission.