Kocian Solc Balastik has advised the Arete investment and real estate group on the closing of its ARETE Invest CEE II sub-fund.

Paksoy, working with global counsel Linklaters, has advised PwC on the agreement to sell its Global Mobility Tax and Immigration Services business to US private equity group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Debevoise & Plimpton was global counsel to the buyer.

Thinking about my journey and experiences as an expat lawyer in the Czech Republic, I vividly recall one of the early client meetings I had fresh off the boat in the mid-1990s. A CEE client came to the office with a “suitcase” telephone … an old school plastic telephone with a rotary dial and a long antenna, encased in an MDF “custom telecommunications suitcase” which he proudly lugged onto the desk …  (He was also wearing one of those plum-colored shiny polyester suits so beloved by New Europe Entrepreneurs in the 90s). Note to incredulous young lawyers reading this: in those days there were no mobile phones (The horror!).

As the Czech government signed off on the EU “Green Deal”, which aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050, the Czech Republic needs to find ways to achieve this goal, or at least to get close to it. Even though certain legislative and other supporting measures are currently being undertaken towards transitioning to low carbon energy – changes to the Czech Act on supported sources of energy, state subsidies for the (re)construction of power plants – given its geographical specifics and historical background, nuclear power is likely to play a key role in replacing coal-burning power plants. Under current state policy, construction of new nuclear reactors is to begin shortly. The first new reactors, to be located at the current Dukovany power plant, should begin operations by 2037. The Dukovany project took precedence over the construction of new nuclear blocks at the Temelin power plant, a priority at the beginning of the 21st century.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Czech technology accelerator AI Startup Incubator on its investment in US-Bangladeshi OpenRefactory.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised accounting program developer Solitea on its acquisition of Czech logistics information systems supplier Prytanis.

The Czech Republic is experiencing strong positive winds, irrespective of the severity with which the pandemic struck, and there are things aplenty to be happy about, according to Kocian Solc Balastik Partner Dagmar Dubecka.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised J&T Banka on entering into a strategic partnership with Amista.

Kocian Solc Balastik team has advised the third fund of the Arete Group on its approximately EUR 10 million acquisition of a production facility complex near Beroun, Czech Republic.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised J&T IB and Capital Markets on the arranging of 3M Fund MSI's issuance of senior bonds with a value of CZK 1 billion.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Solitea on its acquisition of Mainstream Technologies and its parent company Powerstream. Oswaldova & Partners Advokatni Kancelar reportedly advised the seller.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised the Arete Group on securing a EUR 30 million loan from Raiffeisenbank. The Prague office of Clifford Chance advised the lender. Wilsons Slovakia advised Arete on Slovak aspects of the deal.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Devereal on the sale of the Profimedia.CZ group to the Czech Press Office. KPMG Legal reportedly advised the Czech Press Office on the deal.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Webglobe on the acquisition of domain registration and hosting service provider Savana.cz from founder Pavel Hofner.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised Sandberg Capital on the acquisition of a 40% stake in Daktela.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised J&T IB Capital Markets on Alpha Quest Funds' CZK 500 million senior bond issuance due 2026.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised US software company Jamf on its USD 400 million acquisition of software developer Wandera. 

Schoenherr has advised Twisto FinCo s.r.o. and Twisto payments a.s. on its EUR 25 million debt refinancing, including a senior stream provided by J&T Banka of approximately EUR 17.3 million and a mezzanine stream provided jointly by Orbit Capital and Growth Finance of approximately EUR 7.7 million. Kocian Solc Balastik represented J&T Banka and CMS advised Orbit Capital and Growth Finance.