RTPR and Havel & Partners have advised Hungarian facility manager B+N Referencia Zrt. on its acquisition of the ISS Group’s subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. Havel & Partners acted as Czech counsel to the buyer.

Havel & Partners has advised Sebre, Havel & Partners' Managing Partner Jaroslav Havel, and Sebre Managing Director Jan Kubicek, on the joint acquisition of a 50% shareholding in SousedeCZ, a company operating an online platform for digital communication of homeowner associations in residential buildings, from entrepreneurs Tomas Holomoucky and Tomas Sikora.

Havel & Partners has successfully represented Apple in a dispute with the President of the Czech Republic's Industrial Property Office involving the trademark for the company's "Think Different" slogan in the Czech Republic.

Noerr has advised facility services provider ISS on the divestment of its main subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary to Hungarian facility management company B+N Referencia Zrt. Havel & Partners advised B+N Referencia on the transaction, which remains contingent on regulatory approval.

New Act No. 37/2021 Sb. on the Register of Beneficial Owners (“ARBO”) will enter into force on 1 June 2021 in the Czech Republic. In contrast to the current legislation, the ARBO introduces significant sanctions for a breach of the obligations it imposes, including fines up to CZK 500,000 or invalidation of voting rights and the right to dividends.

Havel & Partners has advised Dentamed CZ on its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Medema.

Havel & Partners has advised Gi International on its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Work Service Czech and Work Service Slovakia.

Havel & Partners has advised Moravia Containers on its acquisition of 100% of shares in Contimade. Rakovsky & Partners advised the sellers on the deal.

In the Czech Republic, persons who undergo Covid-19 vaccination have been given the opportunity to claim financial compensation from the state if the vaccination (or, more precisely, the medicinal product containing a vaccine) causes harm. The Czech Parliament adopted Act No. 569/2020 Sb., on the Distribution of Medicinal Products Containing a Vaccine for Covid-19 Vaccination and on Compensation for Harm Caused to Those Vaccinated by These Medicinal Products (“Act No. 569/2020 Sb.”), which allows such compensation. According to the explanatory memorandum, this measure aims to “facilitate compensation of those who get vaccinated if they are harmed by the vaccination, thereby also indirectly promoting interest in Covid-19 vaccination.”

Havel & Partners has advised D&FG Sumava I s.r.o. on the development and subsequent CZK 220 million sale of three buildings of the Sumavske Strane Project to over 70 individual buyers.

CMS has advised AnaCap Financial Partners on its sale of the Equa Bank to Raiffeisen Bank International, acting through its Czech subsidiary. Havel & Partners and Linklaters advised the buyer on the deal.

Havel & Partners has advised entrepreneur Jaroslav Rudolf on the sale of Salvator Strechy s.r.o., a specialized roofing material company, to an unidentified construction material company. 

Let us remind you of the two changes in income tax with an international element, which already have or are soon expected to come into effect (or to the end of the applicable time limit).

The most notable recent political event in the Czech Republic was the October 2020 regional election, says Jaroslav Havel, Managing Partner at Havel & Partners. However, Havel is quick to point out that, no matter who has been in office in the last ten years, politicians have not had a major impact on business in the Czech Republic. A more tangible effect of the election, he says, is that his former partner, Jan Holasek, who left the former Havel & Holasek law firm six years ago, has become a member of the Czech Senate.

A new regulation sets up a system for controlling investments from outside the EU in strategic assets relevant to the security and internal order of the Czech Republic. From 1 April 2021, certain foreign investments in Czech assets (including private) will thus be subject to prior approval by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The ministry will also be entitled to review any foreign investment up to five years after its completion. The Act defines a wide variety of entries into the target as foreign investment (not only asset ownership but also, for example, membership of a body). There is no experience with investment approval procedures yet, but failure to notify can lead to enormous fines (up to 1% of turnover). Comprehensive preparation of the required documents and information and legal representation in negotiations with the Ministry of Industry and Trade are therefore highly recommended.

Havel & Partners has helped Sprava Zeleznic organize an international architectural competition to design the first Czech high-speed railway terminal.

On 1 January 2021, the new Act No. 254/2019 Sb., on Experts, Expert Offices and Expert Institutes (the Act on Experts), entered into force, replacing Act No. 36/1967 Sb., on Experts and Interpreters. This is undoubtedly the most significant change in this area in the last 30 years. Below is a selection of the most important changes:

Havel & Partners has advised the Premium Design Group on its acquisition of 100% of the shares in the manufacturing cooperative Javorina.