Did you know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, of the 88 law firm partners who have reported working on disputes in CEE over the past 12 months, only nine have reported working on more than one?

CMS has advised Greenvolt Power Solar Poland on its acquisition of an 80-megawatt photovoltaic project – including a battery energy storage system capable of storing electricity up to 25 megawatts per four hours – from AES Global Power Holdings. Spasov & Bratanov, working with Bracewell, advised the seller.

Kambourov & Partners, working with Latham & Watkins, has advised Triton Partners on local aspects of the carve-out and acquisition of Siemens Energy’s Trench high-voltage component business. Baker McKenzie advised Siemens Energy. White & Case advised a syndicate of banks and financial institutions on financing the acquisition.

Boyanov & Co. has advised digital transformation consultant Synechron on its full acquisition of Bulgarian developer Dreamix. Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov advised Dreamix and its nine shareholders on the sale.

Kinstellar has advised the United Energy Group on its acquisition of Green Profit – the company developing the 250-megawatt Simeonovgrad-Polyanovo photovoltaic project. Wolf Theiss advised Delcho Nikolaev Pehlivanov on the sale.

CMS has successfully represented El Consult PV in a civil dispute initiated by EPC contractor SimInvest claiming compensation for damages before Bulgarian courts.

Boyanov & Co. has advised the Eurobank group on its EUR 61 million general corporate purposes financing for Galleria Burgas EAD and Galleria Stara Zagora EAD, which own and manage the Mall Galleria Burgas and Mall Galleria Stara Zagora shopping centers in Bulgaria. Dentons reportedly advised the lenders as well.

CMS has advised electricity trader Danske Commodities on the licensing of its Bulgarian activities before the country's Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, including for the coordination of a standard and combined balancing group.

Kinstellar has advised Globe Trade Center subsidiary Dorado 1 on a EUR 55 million financing from OTP Bank and DSK Bank.

Boyanov & Co recently announced that Borealis' acquisition of Integra Plastics (reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 8, 2023) had closed on March 29, 2024.

CMS and King & Spalding have successfully represented ACF Renewable Energy Limited – a JV between ACWA Power, Blackrock, and Crescent Capital – in an ICSID case against Bulgaria for the breach of fair and equitable treatment under the Energy Charter Treaty, concerning the 61-megawatt Karadzhalovo photovoltaic plant built in 2012.

CMS has advised Global Biomet on the EUR 50 million financing for the Aratiden PV project in Bulgaria granted by UniCredit Bulbank. CMS also advised on the project's two EPC contracts, with Green Solar Energy for substations and grid connection, and with Rashev & Co for the PV section.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

Did you know that the CEE Q1 leaderboards are available through the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website?

Wolf Theiss, working with Clifford Chance, has advised Allianz Bank Bulgaria on the review, negotiations, and regulatory compliance of a synthetic securitization agreement with the European Investment Bank Group.

How M&A lawyers add value to our clients deals? That’s our job and primary goal.

One of the significant questions concerning ESG issues is the cost of transitioning to a more sustainable business environment. Will it result in increased financing costs and restricted access to new borrowing, or will it, on the contrary, lead to the development of new market segments and gradual change? While we cannot provide definitive answers to these questions, in this article, we will examine five ESG drivers and regulatory changes that will be pivotal in 2024. From the introduction of the New Green Asset Ratio to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD/CS3D), we will explore the conditions associated with these new requirements and the potential penalties for non-compliance.

Regulatory updates – mostly driven by EU acts – keep lawyers on the toes in Bulgaria with digital markets being at the forefront of the country's Competition Protection Commission according to PPG Lawyers Partner Mariya Papazova.