CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As we bid farewell to 2023, this time around we turn our attention forward: What is your one main wish for 2024 and what do you see as the biggest potential risk?
Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu has advised Arobs Transilvania Software on the acquisition of Infobest Romania from founders Yvonne Abstoss-Becker and Christian Becker. Filip & Company, working with PPR & Partner Pape Rauh, advised the sellers.
Clifford Chance has advised the arranging banks – Citi, Erste, HSBC, JP Morgan, and Societe Generale – on Romania's first issuance of green bonds, to the tune of EUR 2 billion, and simultaneous EUR 2 billion issuance of conventional bonds. Filip & Company, working with Linklaters, advised Romania's Ministry of Finance.
CMS has advised the OTP Group on the binding agreement to sell its stake in OTP Bank Romania and all subsidiaries to Banca Transilvania for a combined purchase price is EUR 347.5 million. Filip & Company advised Banca Transilvania on the acquisition.
For us, 2023 was a stable year, with constant and varied activity in the real estate field, despite the less favorable context, characterized by high inflation, geopolitical instability and the impact on the economy. Our team has successfully completed several transactions, “pure” real-estate and especially transactions with a predominant M&A component. We were happy to notice a series of projects with 100% Romanian capital, initiated in 2023 and completed in the same year, targeting especially companies that have expanded and diversified their portfolio.
Did you know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, a total of twenty law firms and seventeen individual lawyers worked on five or more reported Romanian client matters in 2023?
On January 16, 2024, Filip & Company announced that the transfer of the Orange Money Romania retail business to Alpha Bank (reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 29, 2023) had closed.
On January 22, 2024, Vernon David announced that Victoriabank’s acquisition of the BCR Chisinau subsidiary (reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 7, 2023) had closed.
Filip & Company has advised Fondul Proprietatea on the sale of its minority shareholding in Engie Romania in a transaction exceeding EUR 86 million. Bondoc si Asociatii reportedly advised Engie.
It was another strong year for the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, which, combined, worked on over a thousand deals and other client matters across the region reported on by CEE Legal Matters this year. According to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Clifford Chance, which worked on an impressive 95 CEELM-reported CEE client matters in 2023, led the international firms in the region, with Schoenherr, which worked on 90, close behind. Dentons (82), CMS (71), Wolf Theiss (65), Cobalt (66), Kinstellar (50), White & Case (45), and Allen & Overy (42) took notable places on the leaderboard as well.
Filip & Company has advised BT Capital Partners, Alpha Bank, and Raiffeisen Bank on Cluj County’s EUR 75.68 million bond issuance.
Filip & Company has advised Digi Spain Telecom and RCS & RDS on the acquisition of a package of spectrum licenses for the private use of the radioelectric public domain related to certain sets of blocks of frequencies in the 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 3,500 MHz bands from Xfera Moviles, part of MasMovil Group in Spain.
BPV Grigorescu Stefanica has advised Infineon Technologies on its EUR 57 million lease agreement with One United Properties in Romania. Filip & Company reportedly advised One United Properties.
Filip & Company, working with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has advised Banca Transilvania on its new EUR 1.5 billion bond program which raised EUR 500 million via a sustainable bond issuance. The Bucharest and London offices of Clifford Chance advised the dealers.
Filip & Company has advised Romanian book-borrowing company Bookster on the setup and launch of its Booksprint self-publishing platform aimed at aspiring authors.
Recently, there has been a strong trend in several EU Member States to correct economy imbalances through price and tariff capping measures. This is also the case in Romania, where certain industries or market segments are subject to capping and control measures. (e.g., MTPL insurance, certain segments of the energy market, staple foods, etc.).
In a significant development, the European Parliament and Council have recently reached a preliminary agreement on a set of new regulations designed to combat misleading advertising and provide consumers with more accurate product information. This agreement aims to strengthen consumer rights and tackle deceptive marketing practices, including greenwashing and planned uselessness of products.
Filip & Company has advised Romanian software developer Arobs Transilvania Software on the transfer of its shares to the Main Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
Filip & Company is one of the leading law firms in Romania providing top quality assistance in all relevant areas of law for businesses operating in Romania or considering Romania. Specialized in complex projects that require an innovative approach, Filip & Company lawyers have significant experience in various areas, such as infrastructure and concession, mergers and acquisitions, energy, corporate, real estate, competition law, finance, and capital markets but also labour law, data protection, consumer or environment protection. The law firm also provides legal assistance and representation in disputes and arbitrations with significant implications for the clients’ businesses.
To find out more about Filip & Company’s expertise areas and team, please visit https://filipandcompany.com/