Nedelka Kubac Advokati has advised Slovenska sporitelna, VUB, Tatra banka, CSOB, and 365.bank on receiving European Commission approval for a joint venture between the five banks.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised arranger J&T IB Capital Markets on the issuance of unsecured unsubordinated book-entry bonds by J&T Energy Financing CZK, with a total value of EUR 750 million and an option to increase to EUR 2.25 billion.

JSK has advised Credit Value Investments on its investment in the Saunia Group through a bond financing. BDO Legal reportedly advised Saunia.

Havel & Partners, Savoric & Partners, ODI Law, and Hillbridges have advised a syndicate of banks on the approximately EUR 196 million syndicated cross-border refinancing loan to the CCC Group. Linklaters, Lakatos Koves & Partners, and Filip & Company reportedly advised the lenders as well.

Schoenherr, working with Pinsent Masons and Wenger Vieli, has advised Kontron on selling parts of Kontron Group’s IT services business to Vinci Energies during a competitive auction process, for approximately EUR 400 million. Reportedly, Baker McKenzie’s German office advised Vinci Energies. Loloci & Associates advised Kontron on Albanian matters.

The Slovak Republic has transposed regulations to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. These regulations are mainly stated in the AML Act.

The Slovak market is undergoing an ESG transformation. As in most CEE countries, ESG is not yet regulated by a specific law in the Slovak Republic. Nevertheless, the trend toward considering ESG issues has appreciably increased in the last two years.

Taylor Wessing has advised Slovakia's GA Drilling on an EUR 8 million investment from US-based Nabors Industries.

Hugh Owen was appointed to the role of Head of Legal at PwC Central and Eastern Europe.

Clifford Chance, Selih & Partnerji, and Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka have advised Ceska Sporitelna and Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka on the refinancing of Kofola. Onisko & Holesova, Planinic Soljic & Partners, and solo practitioner Klemen Ticar advised Kofola.

Dentons has advised the Dr. Max Group on its EUR 940 million loan for the refinancing of its bank debt and further growth. UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia and Komercni Banka led the 14-bank strong consortium. White & Case advised the banks.

In 2021 the Slovakian legal framework was set to be updated with a new FDI screening mechanism, echoing the wave of similar legislative updates throughout the European Union. However, after almost a full year, the proposed draft act has not yet come to pass. CEE Legal Matters spoke with Ruzicka and Partners Banking & Finance Partner Jan Hanko about the process, the draft itself, and its potential consequences on the Slovakian market.

Schoenherr has advised Ondrej Zita on his sale of OptimNet Solutions and OptimNet Solutions SK to the Hellmann Worldwide Logistics group. BDO Legal reportedly advised the buyer.

Clifford Chance has advised Atrium European Real Estate on its divestment of the Optima shopping center in Kosice to the joint venture of two Slovak shopping center investors for EUR 118 million. Taylor Wessing and Krnac Koncok & Partners reportedly advised the buyers.

Contributed by Dentons.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Savoric & Partners, and Filip & Company have advised Borealis on a binding offer for its nitrogen business from the Agrofert group. Wolf Theiss advised Agrofert. Oppenheim, Boyanov & Co, and PRK Partners reportedly advised Borealis as well.

Wolf Theiss, working alongside NautaDutilh and lead counsel WilmerHale, has advised Lookout on the acquisition of SaferPass.

The trend towards ESG issues has increased markedly on the Slovakian commercial real estate market. More and more Slovak companies are behaving responsibly and sustainably – under pressure from tenants, employees, contractors, customers, regulators, and investors who involve ESG in their decision-making.