Did You Know that the ten firms that have worked on the most client matters reported by CEE Legal Matters through Q3 of 2023 are equally divided between international and regional powerhouses? According to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Magic Circle-member Clifford Chance, which has worked on a remarkable 66 deals reported by CEE Legal Matters in the first nine months of 2023, leads the pack, but Vienna-based Schoenherr is close behind with 64.

Schoenherr has advised Wienerberger on its EUR 350 million issuance of 4.875% sustainability-linked 2023-2028 bonds. Wolf Theiss advised joint lead managers and bookrunners Commerzbank, Danske Bank, Erste Group Bank, and UniCredit Bank.

Wolf Theiss has advised DTEK Renewables International on its acquisition of a 60-megawatt installed capacity wind energy project in Ruginoasa, Iasi county, Romania, from local entrepreneurs. Kommunalkredit Austria AG provided a EUR 55 million senior facility for the project.

Despite concerns over automotive suppliers relocating due to geopolitical tensions, the automotive sector in Slovakia has remained resilient. The sector continues to be the backbone of the economy, with tax revenues and employment surpassing other industries, although challenges do exist. Ruzicka & Partners Managing Partner Jaroslav Ruzicka, Wolf Theiss Counsel and Head of Corporate/M&A Bruno Stefanik, and Cechova & Partners Head of Automotive Practice Michal Simunic take a closer look at the status of the sector.

WKB Lawyers has advised PGE Energia Odnawialna on its acquisition of the 24.85-megawatt Zalesie wind farm. Wolf Theiss advised the LongWing Energy Group on the sale.

Wolf Theiss, working with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, has advised South Korean waste management company IS Dongseo on its acquisition of Slovakia's BTS Technology.

Former Counsels Zeno Grabmayr, Adelina Iftime-Blagean, Maciej Olszewski, Aleksandar Ristic, Bruno Stefanik, and Stefan Wartinger have all become Partners in Wolf Theiss’ respective offices across CEE.

Wolf Theiss, working with Herbert Smith Freehills, has advised AustralianSuper on its EUR 1.5 billion investment to acquire a significant minority stake in Vantage Data Centers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Wolf Theiss has advised India's automotive systems and components manufacturer Sona BLW Precision Forgings on the EUR 40.5 million acquisition of a 54% stake in Serbia's radar sensor and embedded systems company Novelic. Schoenherr, working with India's Priti Suri & Associates, advised Novelic's founders on the sale.

Wolf Theiss has advised Latvian private equity fund INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund and its portfolio company Eco Baltia on the acquisition of a 70% stake in Polish PVC recycler Metal-Plast. Ozog Tomczykowski advised the target's shareholders on the sale. Sorainen reportedly advised INVL and Eco Baltia as well.

Where behavior is investigated in parallel by the Austrian competition authorities and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), the latter usually requests the competition authorities to provide it with copies of their files, including leniency statements and settlement submissions that have been filed with the Federal Competition Authority (FCA), and adds (parts of) these documents to its own file. Victims of competition law infringements can thus indirectly get access to leniency statements and settlement submissions through an inspection of the PPO’s file. This practice risks weakening the effectiveness of the Austrian leniency program and settlement procedure as it may deter undertakings from cooperating with the FCA.

The Government Decree on the winter administrative break is out. Here’s what to expect.

This article discusses the interplay between the primacy of European Union law and the expected new practice in criminal law cases in Romania.

Wolf Theiss has advised UniCredit Bank Austria, CaixaBank, La Banque Postale, and Bondholders SL on a EUR 113 million syndicated financing for RML Infrastruktur for the roll-out, operation, and maintenance of an open-access fiber-to-the-home network in Austria's Liezen district. PHH reportedly advised Meridiam.

Wolf Theiss has advised the JP Hospitality Investors Club on a hotel lease agreement with Treasurests Hospitality. Suppan Spiegl Zeller reportedly advised Treasurests Hospitality.

On 11 July 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published a public statement (“ESMA Statement”) regarding sustainability-related disclosure requirements in prospectuses for both equity and non-equity securities.

Schoenherr has advised Greiner Group member Neveon Holding on the sale of its automotive division consisting of Greiner Perfoam and its subsidiaries to Treves. Wolf Theiss advised Treves.

Although the deadline for transposing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the Whistleblowing Directive) into national law passed on 17 December 2021, the Czech Republic has been among those Member States struggling to adopt a corresponding act into local legislation. Nonetheless, after turbulent discussions and legislative proposals, the bill has finally been passed and came into force on 1 August 2023.