If one were to glance over the website of the Montenegrin Agency for Protection of Competition (Agency), one may reach what will turn out to be a premature conclusion that the Agency is not an overly active enforcer, especially when it comes to merger control-related infringements. One will also not be able to learn much about the Agency’s fining practices. To gain a more realistic picture of its track record with gun-jumping cases, a deeper dive into publicly available data is required. Reasons for this lie mostly with how the Montenegrin legal system for the levying of competition fines is set up.

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.

Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners has advised the Soravia Group on its sale of the Radisson Collection Hotel Old Mill Belgrade – through a share deal for all shares in Prigan DOO – to the Delta Real Estate Group.

Zivkovic Samardzic has advised US venture capital fund TinySeed on its investment in video automation software developer Plainly. Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners advised Plainly's shareholders.

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 stay up to date with the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas. 

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 stay up to date with the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas. 

E+H has advised Wienerberger on its acquisition of the Terreal operations in France, Italy, Spain, and the US together with the Creaton business in Germany and Benelux from France's Terreal Group. Latham & Watkins, Advant, Garrigues, Masotti Cassella, Holland & Knight, and Stibbe reportedly advised Wienerberger as well.

M&A activity in Serbia finally showed some positive trends in 2022, despite high inflation and supply chain challenges. During the first three quarters of 2022, the Serbian M&A market has performed well, given the current economic environment, and was primarily defined by deals in the energy and real estate sectors, the IT industry, and further consolidation of the banking sector. 

Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners, working with Advant Beiten, has advised the shareholders of Hedwell Group Germany on the sale of the Hedwell Group to SAP Fioneer. Reportedly, Germany's Poellath advised SAP Fioneer on the deal.

Employment law related matters are a fundamental part of every legal due diligence analysis of Serbian companies and their respective businesses. Following the enactment of the Law on Gender Equality ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", no. 52/2021, "Law"), the scope of legal due diligence exercises should be extended to also include targets’ compliance with obligations set forth in the Law.

During the first half of 2022 the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia ("Commission") has been very proactive with respect to prevention of competition infringements. As a result of these efforts, in May the Commission also adopted a new Instruction for detecting bid rigging in public procurement procedures ("Instruction") thereby updating the older version of the Instruction from 2011.

Even though changes could be in the pipeline for Serbia given the upcoming April 2022 presidential and parliamentary elections, the central Balkan country is in a state of stability and steady advancement, according to Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners Partner Sasa Stojanovic.