CEELM: Tell us a bit about the deal and your firm’s role in getting it across the finish line. 

Peterka & Partners has been steadily expanding its reach across Europe for more than 23 years, with the recent addition of Croatia to the firm’s network. Peterka & Partners Managing Partner Ondrej Peterka and the Croatian firm’s Main Contact Person, Attorney-at-Law Anja Haramija, share details about the firm’s vision and its recent expansion.

Strategic investment project legislation was first introduced into the Croatian legal system through the Strategic Investment Act that came into force in 2013, which, after two amendments (in 2014 and 2016), was replaced by the new Strategic Investment Act in April 2018.

Following a tumultuous year marked by the ongoing conflict in the region and rising financing expenses, we reached out to experts across CEE to gain a deeper understanding of the real estate landscape, including key factors driving the industry and the primary obstacles it faces.

Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Germany's Possehl Digital on its acquisition of a minority stake in Croatian Osijek-based IT company Mono.

Savoric & Partners has advised Biochem Polska on its acquisition of Croatian wholesale medical equipment distributor Kvantum-Tim. Bradvica Maric Wahl Cesarec advised an unidentified private individual on the sale.

Contributed by Savoric & Partners.

Savoric & Partners has advised Hrvatski Telekom on its renewable-source virtual power purchase agreement ten-year partnership with Liburana. Kovacevic, Prpic, Simeunovic advised Liburana.

Wolf Theiss has advised Germany-based logistics specialist Rhenus Group on its acquisition of Croatian logistics provider Trans Integral.

Squire Patton Boggs has successfully represented the Republic of Croatia before an International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes tribunal against a EUR 200 million claim brought by Marko Mihaljevic.

Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners has advised the mandated lead arrangers on the restructuring of facilities granted for the Istrian Y motorway concession project.

Contributed by Deloitte Legal.

Despite the challenges, Croatia’s M&A market appears to hold promise in 2023 – particularly in the retail, IT, and renewables sectors – according to Ostermann & Partners Managing Partner Mojmir Ostermann.

BDK Advokati has advised Integrator majority shareholder Aleksandar Hangiman on the sale of the company to Meritus. Mamic Peric Reberski Rimac reportedly advised Meritus.

CMS has advised Best in Parking and its majority shareholder Breiteneder Immobilien Parking on receiving a minority investment from Macquarie Asset Management. Linklaters advised Macquarie Asset Management.

On April 28, 2023, CMS announced that PPD and INA’s sale of TMF – the largest shareholder of Croatian fertilizer company Petrokemija – to the Yildirim Group (reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 22, 2022), had closed.

Ketler & Partners, a member of Karanovic, and Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners have advised the Volution Group on its acquisition of I-Vent in Slovenia and Croatia for EUR 25.2 million on a debt-free cash-free basis from Milan Kuster. Zagorc & Partners advised Kuster on the sale.

Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners has advised ALS on its acquisition of Hidro.Lab.