Dentons has advised a syndicate of Raiffeisen Bank, UniCredit Bank, ING Bank, CIB Bank, Erste Bank, K&H Bank, and MKB Bank, and four affiliated leasing companies, on the restructuring of the Waberer’s Group’s debts. Lakatos, Koves & Partners advised the banks on the deal.

Over the last five years, Turkish payment services and payment systems have gone through turbulent times, with pressure both from competition authorities (demonstrated by BKM Express’ rollercoaster ride between 2016 and 2020) and financial market regulators. Though the power of incumbent banks remains strong, the market is liberalizing and opening up for fintech players.

The Warsaw office of Dentons has advised Interpierre Europe Centrale on its acquisition of the MAN Truck & Bus Center warehouse in Malopole, Poland, from 7R. SSW Pragmatic Solutions advised 7R on the deal.

Dentons has advised Czech airline Smartwings on its out-of-court restructuring and CZK 2 billion financing from UniCredit Bank, Komercni Banka, Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, and Ceska Sporitelna, which will allow it to continue operating in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. White & Case advised the lenders, and Allen & Overy, Holland & Knight, and Norton Rose advised selected lessors on the deal. AK Zizlavsky advised Smartwings on insolvency law aspects.

Dentons has advised CEE Equity Partners, the investment advisor of the China-CEE Fund I, on the sale by the fund of three onshore wind farms in Poland, with a total capacity of 163 megawatts, to Iberdrola. Baker McKenzie reportedly advised Iberdrola on the deal.

Former Counsels Selahattin Kaya and Bora Ikiler have been promoted to Partner at the Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership.

Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Avukatlik Ortakligi has advised Gulf Capital on the sale of its 70% stake in TurkNet lletisim Hizmetleri A.S., an alternative Internet service provider in Turkey, to the members of the Celebiler family and a fund of Re-Pie Portfoy Yonetimi A.S. ErsoyBilgehan advised the Celebiler family on that deal, and on the immediate sale of 40% shares in Turknet to Re-pie. Baspinar & Partners reportedly advised Re-Pie on the deal.

Concern around carbon footprints, climate change, greenhouse emissions and compliance with environmental regulations and anti-bribery and corruption legislation has been on the rise over the last 20 years. More recently, that concern has expanded to encompass an increased emphasis on sustainable development in business operations and supply chains. The drive for more accountability and transparency from financial institutions, private equity investors and governments around the globe has turned the spotlight on disparities in terms of pay, gender and diversity, as well as the use of slavery in manufacturing. What started as discrete areas of focus and/or regulation, now firmly fall under the mainstream umbrella term, “Environmental, Social and Governance” (“ESG”).

Dentons has advised Heimstaden Bostad, the third-largest provider of rental housing in Europe, on its EUR 23 million acquisition of Czech real estate development company Daramis's residential-apartments-for-rent portfolio in the Unicity complex in Plzen.

Dentons Counsel Patricia Gossanyiova has been appointed as the new Co-Head of the firm's Banking and Finance practice in Bratislava, taking the role over from Slovakia Managing Partner Peter Kubina, who has become Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice.

The Warsaw office of Dentons has advised South African owner and developer of logistics properties Fortress REIT on its acquisition of Waimea Logistic Park Bydgoszcz and Waimea Logistic Park Stargard from Griffin Property Finance. Allen & Overy advised the seller.

The Moscow office of Dentons has advised the controlling shareholder of PJSC ChelPipe, Andrey Komarov, on the sale of his 86.54% share in the company to PJSC TMK. Latham & Watkins advised the buyer.

Dentons has advised the European Federation of Energy Traders on the enforceability of the EFET General Agreement concerning the delivery and acceptance of natural gas and collateral arrangements. 

Linklaters has advised Chariot, a group managed by Griffin Real Estate, on the sale of retail parks in the Polish communities of Olsztyn, Opole, Kielce, and Tychy to EPP, which was advised by Dentons. The value of the transaction was EUR 106 million and the total leasable area of the properties amounts to 110,000 square meters. 

On February 13, 2021, the Law of Ukraine No. 1116-IX “On State Support for Investment Projects with Significant Investments in Ukraine” dated December 17, 2020 (the “Law”) entered into force. This Law aims to attract high-value foreign investment to Ukraine and defines the principal rules and guarantees for the implementation of investment projects (the “investment project”).

From January 1, 2021, Poland has introduced new transfer pricing regulations for transactions with entities registered in tax havens.

Greenberg Traurig has advised Tritax EuroBox on the sale of a warehouse in the Polish logistics hub of Strykow, near Lodz, to Savills Investment Management. Dentons advised the buyer on the deal.

The Moscow office of Dentons has advised the Puratos Group on its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Rushleb Research, a Russian manufacturer of biotechnological products for the baking industry.