CEE Legal Matters In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets 
As last year’s upheavals continue to influence finance markets in 2021, Erika Papp, CMS’s Head of Finance CEE/CIS, and CMS’s Regional Finance Partners Paul Stallebrass in Prague, Ana Radnev in Bucharest, and Elitsa Ivanova in Sofia offer their perspectives on what this year might hold for financing in CEE.
Romania lies on the historically and geographically significant crossroads between the East and the West and both its roads and its waterways provide important routes for commerce between continents. It is no wonder, then, that the transportation, logistics, and infrastructures sectors in Romania offer high potential for growth and profit. The prospect of harnessing this potential has attracted investors from around the world – and law firms positioned to help them succeed. Danilescu Hulub & Partners, founded by Partners Lucian Danilescu and Andreea Hulub in April, 2020, is one such firm.
Popovici, Nitu, Stoica, and Asociatii has advised Ameropa Grains on the sale of a former industrial platform in Constanta to Hornbach.
In the recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the crucial areas that the European Union (“EU”) decided to invest in to get fit for the digital era. In order to acquire leadership and autonomy in this field, the EU takes steps to develop competencies, capacities and capabilities.
DLA Piper has advised Hypo Noe Landesbank on a EUR 16.6 million multi-tranche real estate loan facility granted to the unnamed owner and operator of a number of retail shopping centers in Romania.
Act Botezatu Estrade Romania has advised OncoChain on its EUR 380,000 seed financing round, which was led by Cleverage Venture Capital and also included an equity crowdfunding round on the Seedblink platform, as well as two angel investors from the Growceanu network.
Zamfirescu Racoti Vasile & Partners has successfully represented the interests of Romanian bike producer Atelierele Pegas in a trademark dispute with Germany's ZEG Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG, the owner of the Pegasus brand of bikes, among others.
Biris Goran has helped River Development sell The Light One office building in Bucharet to UNIQA Real Estate GmbH. Schoenherr advised UNIQA on the deal.
BPV Grigorescu Stefanica and Kinstellar have advised Product Lead on a EUR 600,000 financing round led by Sparking Capital that also included investments from Bulgaria-based Eleven VC and Sweden-based Founders Bridge. CEE Attorneys/Boanta, Gidei si Asociatii advised Sparking Capital and ACT Legal Romania advised Founders Bridge.
Two recent ground-breaking court decisions are the main topics of conversation between lawyers in Romania, according to Vertis Legal Partner Grigore Pop – one involving how criminal courts should operate going forward and one involving another lawyer that raises "serious concerns over the legal profession as a whole."
BPV Grigorescu Stefanica, working with Withers, has advised Draper Esprit on its participation in FinTechOS's USD 60 million Series B investment round.
Filip & Company and Linklaters have assisted Romania's Ministry of Public Finance in its two-tranche Eurobond issuance, which attracted EUR 3.5 billion from international markets. Clifford Chance advised BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG, HSBC Continental Europe, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Societe Generale, and UniCredit Bank AG on the issuance.
Starting with 1 April 2021, the long-term electricity supply contracts will no longer be as long-term as they used to be. Following the entry into force of ANRE Order No. 26/2021(“Order 26/2021”), the concept of „long term electricity supply contract” was redefined as a „supply contract with a delivery period longer than or equal to one month”, compared to the previous definition which referred to „delivery period longer than one year”.
Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised Coca-Cola HBC Romania on its acquisition of 50% of the share capital in the Stockday b2b e-commerce platform from Heineken Romania. Radulescu & Musoi advised the seller.
RTPR has assisted Rodbun Grup SRL in relation to a syndicated loan in amount of RON 84.5 million from Banca Comerciala Romana, CEC Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and Banca Romaneasca, which was guaranteed by Eximbank.
Hogan Lovells is advising CPI Property Group S.A. and White & Case is advising Aroundtown SA on their joint takeover offer for the entire issued share capital of Globalworth Real Estate Investments Limited.
The Draft law on the adoption of certain measures concerning informatics and communications infrastructures of national interest and the conditions for deployment of 5G networks (the “5G Draft Law”) initiated by the former Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communications (“MTIC”) has undergone a new series of examinations from the relevant public authorities as part of the legislative procedure.
Mariana Signeanu has made Partner at Biris Goran in Bucharest.
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