Wolf Theiss and Herbert Smith Freehills have advised French media and publishing group Lagardere on the EUR 73 million sale of its central European radio businesses to Czech Media Invest. Clifford Chance advised Czech Media Invest on the acquisition.
According to Wolf Theiss, “the transaction was the first in a series of disposals that are part of the company's strategic redeployment announced in March.” The sold assets were in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania.
Lagardere shares are listed on Euronext Paris.
Czech Media Invest, which is co-owned and managed by Daniel Kretinsky, has four daily titles, numerous magazines, online domains, and two printing plants, as well as a book publishing and press distribution.
The Wolf Theiss team was led by Partner Jacek Michalski and included Associates Joanna Wajdzik and Anna Nowodworska in Warsaw, Partner Jan Myska and Associate Martin Kolacek in Prague, Partner Ileana Glodeanu, Senior Associate Mircea Ciocirlea, Associates Luciana Tache, and Costin Salaru in Bucharest, and Counsel Katarina Bielikova and Associate Vladimira Rostarova in Bratislava.
The Clifford Chance team was led by Prague Managing Partner Alex Cook, assisted by Senior Associate Stanislav Holec. The team included Partner Laurent Schoenstein and Xavier Petet in Paris, Counsel Krzysztof Hajdamowicz and Trainee Zuzanna Potoczna and Aleksandra Wlaszczuk in Warsaw, and Counsel Mihai Macelaru, Associate Radu Costin, and Trainee Claudia Grosu in Bucharest.
Editor's Note: Clifford Chance announced that its Bucharest team was coordinated by Counsel Mihai Macelaru and Senior Associates Radu Costin and Ecaterina Burlacu. The team also included Partner Nadia Badea, Senior Associate Lavinia Nucu, Lawyer Bogdan Micu, and Trainee Mihnea Niculescu.
