M&A, Corporate Law
Most of our work in M&A is interlinked with our support in other areas of law, notably financing and restructuring. As mentioned, it is typical that when our clients seek our services in connection with an acquisition of an entity, they know they can rely on our support not only for the acquisition itself, but also for securing their other related needs. Subsequently, after the acquisition, we are often very deeply involved in the process of restructuring such entities, and, ultimately, we often again support our clients in the sale of the restructured entity to a new owner.
- PPF – Generali Joint Venture. BBH advised PPF Group N.V. („PPF“) in the creation of one of Central and Eastern Europe’s largest insurers through a joint venture with Italian insurance blue chip Generali Group (“Generali”), which was closed in January 2008. The deal is believed to be the largest-ever M&A transaction involving the Czech Republic. BBH acted as the structuring law firm and coordinated the efforts of several regionally strong international law firms, to achieve this significant result. The joint venture will create one of the leading insurance businesses in the region, with premium income of 2.6 bn. EUR and more than nine million clients. The transaction volume was approx. 3.6 bn. EUR.
- ŠKODA HOLDING sale of its subsidiary. BBH advised SKODA HOLDING a.s. in the sale of its subsidiary Skoda Power, a.s. (the world's leading producer of steam turbines, heat exchangers and other technological devices in the energy field) to the Korean company Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. The transaction is valued at about 11.5 billion CZK. This transaction is regarded as one of the largest M & A transactions in the entire CEE region for 2009.
- Largest Czech Foreign Investment. BBH belongs to the pool of (only) law firms which were selected to serve as principal legal advisors for ČEZ, a.s., the largest energy company in the Czech Republic. In this connection we acted as advisors in connection with ČEZ investment into the energy sector of the Republika Srpska. The value of the investment estimated at 1.5 bn EUR is the largest-ever foreign investment of a Czech firm and the largest investment ever in the Republika Srpska history.
- Nomos Bank Acquisition. BBH acted as legal advisors to PPF Group in connection with the acquisition of 29.9% of shares in Nomos Bank, Russian top 20 banking institution.
- Polymetal Acquisition. BBH acted as advisor to PPF Group N.V. in connection with their acquisition of Cyprus-based Pearlmoon Ltd., which holds a 24.9% stake in the JSC “Polymetal” (listed on the London and Moscow Stock Exchanges), one of the world’s leading precious metals mining companies producing gold and silver.
- TV NOVA GROUP. We have provided extensive legal advise throughout the complex corporate restructuring of TV NOVA GROUP (the largest private Czech television broadcaster) and subsequent sale of TV Nova Group and its assets to Central European Media Enterprises, LTD. (published deal size: 15 bn. CZK, i.e. approx 600 mil. EUR.), announced to be the largest ever US investment in the Czech Republic.
- Setuza Acquistion. We rendered legal services to a private equity fund operating especially in CEE in connection with the acquisition, restructuring and sale of majority shareholdings in SETUZA a.s.
- PPF Investments. We acted as legal counsel to PPF Investments in connection with their acquisitions and sale of several projects in an overall volume exceeding 500 mil. EUR.
- Vodochody Airport. BBH served as legal adviser to the consortium of PPF and J&T in connection with its involvement in the privatisation of the Aero Vodochody. The transaction volume was approx. 100 mil. EUR.
- Sale of ČP Leasing, a.s. We successfully represented CP Strategic Investment B.V. in the sale of its 100% shareholding interest in ČP Leasing, a.s. to SOFINCO S.A.
- Sale of ŠKODA MACHINE TOOL s.r.o. Further, we successfully represented ŠKODA HOLDING a.s. in the sale of its 100% shareholding interest in ŠKODA MACHINE TOOL s.r.o. to TELONIA TRADING LIMITED, a Stanko Impex Group Company.
- BAXI Overseas Holdings Limited. We provided legal counsel to the significant European industrial BAXI GROUP in connection with the acquisition of a majority share in a Czech company dealing with the production and distribution of products in the fields of heating in the industrial equipment and consumer sectors.
- Invensys. BBH represented Invensys Group in the Czech Republic within the global M&A transaction and reorganization of the businesses of Invensys Group.
- Toshiba Europe GmbH. We provided legal counsel to the significant foreign company Toshiba Europe GmbH in the negotiation and preparation of the lease of non-residential premises and with the foundation of the organizational component of this company in the Czech Republic.
- Sale of Škoda Steel. We successfully represented ŠKODA HOLDING, a.s. in the sale of shareholding interest in one of the largest steel producing companies in the Czech Republic (ŠKODA HUTĚ, Plzeň, s.r.o. and ŠKODA, KOVÁRNY, Plzeň, s.r.o. and ŠKODA JS a.s.) to OAO “OMZ” United Heavy Machinery from Russia. This transaction represents the single largest investment by a Russian company in the Czech Republic, with transaction value exceeding 30 mil. EUR
In addition to the above, we are on the shortlist of, or have provided our legal services to, the following clients:
- PPF Group
- ČEZ, a.s.
- Škoda Holding
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