As of the close of 2022, Serbia's banking sector faced challenges amid global economic conditions. The year 2023 brought its distinct set of obstacles, with a noteworthy slowdown in global inflation compared to the last quarter of 2022. However, the undeniable focal point is the war in Ukraine, triggering a faster inflationary spiral due to increased energy and food prices.

Gen Temizer Ozer has advised Bor Seker on its IPO and listing on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Did you know that, using the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, you can look up the 2023 deal leaderboards in each CEE market, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia?

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? 

Kinstellar has advised Evelixon Trading Limited on its acquisition of the Grand Wind Park project company from Windvision Serbia Holding and the subsequent sale of a 50% stake in Grand Wind Park to MK Green Energy Limited. Karanovic & Partners advised Windvision. AP Legal advised MK Green Energy.

Former Sabev & Partners Partner Boryana Boteva has joined Kinstellar's Sofia office as a Senior Counsel and its Head of Projects & Infrastructure.

PwC Legal, working with Van Campen Liem, has advised Blue Sea Capital on co-investing to acquire the Telekom Srbija telecommunications tower portfolio alongside Actis and in co-operation with Andrej Jovanovic’s family office.

Kinstellar has announced several appointments to firm-wide practice and sector leadership positions, including Partner Csilla Andreko in Budapest, Partner Iustinian Captariu and Special Counsel Magda Raducanu in Bucharest, Managing Partner Milos Velimirovic in Belgrade, Managing Partner Lukas Sevcik and Counsel Jan Lehky in Prague, and Managing Associate Lukas Mrazik in Bratislava.

A new Regulation on Active Cooperation for Detecting Cartels (“Regulation”) in Turkey entered into force on 16 December 2023. The Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) also held a helpful webinar on the topic, highlighting the differences between the old and new regulation. In this article, we highlight two changes that we consider to be the most important: (i) applicants are now required to submit documents that contribute added value; and (ii) applications from cartel facilitators are now explicitly welcomed. Lastly, we present an overview of the conditions for full immunity and for reductions in administrative monetary fines.

Kinstellar, working with Linklaters' Madrid office, has advised a consortium of lenders on their EUR 800 million financing for AmRest. Uria Menendez reportedly advised AmRest.

Kinstellar has advised the Genesis Private Equity Fund III on the sale of Sanborn to the Oriens industrial group. GT Legal advised Oriens.

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.

PRK Partners has advised Bezvavlasy on the acquisition of the Hair Servis group. Kinstellar advised the sellers.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Inter Cars on the extension, increase, and reorganization of its senior facilities in the aggregate amount of approximately PLN 2.54 billion (USD 642 million). Kinstellar, Magnusson, Kelemenis, and Glimstedt reportedly advised on the matter as well.

Allen & Overy has advised CMC Europe on the sale of a 100-megawatt combined capacity solar plant in Kaposvar, Hungary to MVM Green Generation. Reportedly, Kinstellar advised MVM Green Generation.

Cytowski & Partners and Svoboda Koubkova have advised UltimateSuite on its sale to Service Now. Kinstellar, working with Covington & Burling, advised Service Now.

Kinstellar Partner Balazs Sepsey has been appointed the new Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Budapest Office. Sepsey is taking over from Kristof Ferenczi, who has recently been appointed Kinstellar’s Firm Managing Partner (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 8, 2023).

Kinstellar and Kavcic Bracun & Partners have advised Slovenia's Nova Ljubljanska Banka banking group on the acquisition of SLS Holdco and its subsidiaries from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.