Masek, Koci, Aujezdsky has advised sports platform Livesport on the acquisition of film portal Kinobox.cz from entrepreneur Peter Vachler, who will remain on as a consultant. Vyskocil, Kroslak a Partneri advised Vachler on the deal.

On May 27, 2020, CEE Legal Matters reported that Dentons had advised CPI Property Group on a successful tender offer of bonds and the issue of EUR 750 million 2.75% notes due 2026 under CPI's EUR 8 billion Medium Term Note Program. We spoke with Martin Matula, General Counsel at CPI, to learn more. 

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Czech hosting company Ignum, a member of Slovakias WY Group, on the acquisition of the hosting division of Axfone LLC, a development and telecommunications company with branches in Europe, the USA, and Asia. Solo practitioner Richard Sysel advised Axfone on the deal.

Kocian Solc Balastik has helped prepare contractual documentation for the Arete investment and real estate group related to the refinancing of the portfolio of its EUR 80 million CEE II sub-fund.

Kocian Solc Balastik has successfully represented the Czech Republic's National Theatre in a rent dispute before the Czech Supreme Court.

Dentons has advised Sev.en Energy on the acquisition of US-based metallurgical coal producer Blackhawk Mining. Latham & Watkins reportedly advised Blackhawk on the deal.

Kinstellar has advised US-based Novavax, a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, on its acquisition of Praha Vaccines a.s. from the Cyrus Poonawalla Group.

Glatzova & Co has successfully represented the interests of paper products manufacturer Mondi Steti before the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic.

Similar to other areas of human endeavour, healthcare is bound to undergo the inevitable process of digital transformation. In the last two years the Czech Republic has taken its first steps towards digitizing its healthcare system by introducing mandatory electronic prescriptions and electronic sick notes and is about to introduce an electronic medications record. Unfortunately, there has been little progress on other fronts. Moreover, the Ministry of Health has yet to complete its draft law setting common standards and rules for eHealth, and it is unlikely to meet its current goal of having the law go into effect in 2021.

Dentons has advised CPI Property Group on a successful tender offer of bonds and the issue of EUR 750 million 2.75% Notes due 2026 under CPI's EUR 8 billion Medium Term Note Program.

An amendment to the Civil Code will enter into force on 1 July 2020, which (i) cancels (save for some exceptions) the pre-emption right of co-owners of real estate, (ii) lifts the ban on contractual penalties against tenants of residential premises, and (iii) significantly changes the legal regulation of unit owners associations.

Weinhold Legal has advised the shareholders of Klikpojisteni.cz, a.s., including the private equity arm of Benson Oak Capital, on the sale of their 100% stake in Klikpojisteni.cz, a.s. to a company majority-owned by TA Associates and minority-owned by MCI EuroVentures. The buyer was advised by Wolf Theiss and Travers Smith. Financial details were not disclosed.

Glatzova & Co has advised the KKCG investment group on the sale of Conectart, a call center operator in the Czech Republic, to the Genesis Capital Group. The Prague office of Kinstellar advised the buyers on the deal.

Kinstellar has helped CSOB to launch the we.trade finance platform in the Czech Republic.

GT Legal has represented Fragile Media s.r.e. founder Daniel Kafka and the Etnetera Group at the sale of their combined 50% stake in Fragile Media to the Czech KnowLimits media and communications group. The Trojan, Dolecek & Partners team advised the buyers on the deal.

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps reshaping the M&A environment across Europe with only deals at the late stage proceeding further, we may also expect the advent – albeit slow and gradual – of distressed M&A in the Czech Republic as businesses fall into financing difficulties. Some businesses will strip off non-core assets, while others will end up in bankruptcy. In each case, this instability presents a wide array of options for strategic investors.

PwC Legal has advised Varroc Lighting Systems, a Czech manufacturer of headlamps, on the expansion of a syndicate of creditors which had provided financing to the company. The banking syndicate was advised by Dentons.

Binder Groesswang and Havel & Partners have advised BEXity and its holding company, Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, on the sale of Czech subsidiary European Contract Logistics in a management buy-out. The buyer, EC Logistics CEO Roman Goerojo, was advised by Jandura a Partneri.