Clifford Chance and Switzerland's Lenz & Staehelin have advised the KKCG AG investment company and pan-European lottery operator the Sazka Group on the EUR 500 million investment into the Sazka by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management. Baker McKenzie advised Apollo.

Since this spring, the Czech Republic has been struggling with the coronavirus SARS CoV-2. The response to the pandemic in the field of labour law was the creation of the so-called Antivirus programme, which aimed to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic by providing a state-backed financial contribution to salary costs. This should prevent mass redundancies and keep unemployment levels under control. Schemes A to C of the Antivirus programme were created on an ad hoc basis as an immediate response to the negative effects of the pandemic.

The Czech office of Kinstellar has advised Kemp Technologies on its acquisition of Czech Republic-based Flowmon from unspecified sellers. Forlex advised the sellers.

Former Kocian Solc Balastik Counsel Rainer Frank has joined Dentons to lead the Czech-German collaboration group in the firm’s office in Prague.

Kinstellar has advised GTT Communications on the USD 2.15 billion sale of its business infrastructure in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe to I Squared Capital. Linklaters advised the buyer on the deal.

The Czech office of Schoenherr has advised the Auto Palace Group, a Czech subsidiary of the Dutch AutoBinck Group, on the acquisition of car dealerships in Prague and Karlovy Vary from CarPoint Karlovy Vary s.r.o., which was advised by Baroch Sobota.

Kinstellar's Prague office has advised Veolia on its acquisition of Prazska Teplarenska from EP Energy, a subsidiary of the EPH Group.

The political landscape in the Czech Republic might soon see a change, Schoenherr Partner Vladimir Cizek says, as “the recent regional elections shook the position of the leading party.” Still, he doesn't expect it to have much impact on foreign investment. He notes that previous political changes have not dissuaded investors from coming to the country, and their stream has been constant for decades.

Kinstellar has re-launched its Restructuring and Insolvency practice, with the new iteration to be co-led by Csilla Andreko, Head of Kinstellar's Banking & Finance practice, and Denise Hamer, Kinstellar Head of C/SEE Asset Solutions.

PRK Partners has advised Euroserum on the sale of its international operations to the Czech Republic-based Eligo. Kocian Solc Balastik reportedly advised Eligo.

Clifford Chance’s Prague office has advised sole lead manager J&T Banka and arranger J&T IB Capital Markets on Energo-Pro Green Finance’s issuance of bonds valued at CZK 530 million.

KSB has successfully represented Czech railway carrier Leo Express in a complaint filed against competitor Ceske Drahy before the European Commision.

Kinstellar has helped Nexen Tire Europe lease a 12,000-square-meter warehouse in CTPark Zatec, about 80 kilometers northwest of Prague, from CTP Bohemia North.

Allen & Overy’s Prague office has advised Ceska Zbrojovka Group on its initial public offering and the listing of its shares on the Prime Market of the Prague Stock Exchange. White & Case reportedly advised the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners Ceska Sporitelna, Komercni Banka, and Societe Generale. Wood & Company Financial Services also acted as a joint bookrunner on the deal. 

Bird & Bird’s Prague office has assisted KB SmartSolutions on an unspecified investment into the fintech company Lemonero, made through the acquisition of shares in its parent company, MonkeyData.

In The Corner Office we ask Managing Partners across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. The question this time around: ”What is your single most favorite client matter in your career?”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to nearly all businesses in the logistics and manufacturing sectors in Central and Eastern Europe, enough time has now lapsed that identifiable trends and opportunities are beginning to emerge. CMS Partners Ana-Marija Skoko, Ivan Gazdic, Iain Batty, and Lukas Hejduk agreed to share their thoughts about the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on logistics and manufacturing developments in their local markets and across CEE.

According to its website, Budapest-based InvestCEE aims to “humanize technology” for lawyers and provides services to law firms and in-house counsel in Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Poland, and the Czech Republic.