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Kinstellar advises certain companies within the Schwarz Group on the closing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Supermarket La Cocos in Romania
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has advised certain companies within the Schwarz Group, the leading international retail group, on their acquisition of a majority stake in Supermarket La Cocos, a dynamic and fast-growing Romanian hypercash operator, from a consortium comprising Morphosis Capital, CEECAT Capital (SEET), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and private investor Iulian Nica. The transaction, announced in 2025, was completed following conditional clearance from the Romanian Competition Council in February 2026, after an in-depth merger control review. The acquisition marks a significant strategic step by the companies within the Schwarz Group in expanding their presence
Kinstellar advises Gránit Asset Management on landmark acquisition of 8 retail parks and 4 standalone stores in Hungary
Kinstellar has successfully advised Gránit Asset Management on the acquisition of a high-value retail portfolio comprising 8 retail parks and 4 standalone stores across Hungary from Revetas Capital, an international real estate investment company. The portfolio includes eight retail parks and four single-tenant retail properties located in major regional cities, including Sopron, Mosonmagyaróvár, Miskolc, Debrecen, Zalaegerszeg, Siófok, Dunaújváros, Nagykanizsa, Marcali, Tolna, Szekszárd and Szentlőrinc. The assets comprise approximately 45,000 sqm of gross leasable area and are nearly fully leased to a strong tenant mix including C&A, Deichmann, Intersport, Libri, McDonald’s, and Müller. Gránit Asset
Kinstellar and KST Law assist Simmons & Simmons on Wise Equity’s acquisition of a majority stake in Marullo
Kinstellar and KST Law have assisted Simmons & Simmons on Turkish law aspects related to the acquisition by Wise Equity, the Milan-based private equity firm, of a majority stake in Marullo. Marullo is recognized as a leader in pistachio products (including semi-finished and finished goods) based in Bronte, Sicily. The deal is designed to support the international growth and expansion of Marullo, strengthening its raw material procurement, and enhancing its position in the high-quality ingredient market. Marullo has a pistachio sourcing and initial processing subsidiary in Turkey. Partner Emre Edmund Özer, Senior Associate Sıla Şaylı and Associate Fırat Erin formed the core team advising the client on the
Bulgaria’s long road to NIS2 is over
Across most of the European Union, the NIS2 Directive has already become operational reality. Bulgaria’s path to transposition, however, has been materially delayed. The Cybersecurity Act amendments intended to implement the NIS2 Directive were first submitted to the Parliament in September 2024, passed at first reading in February 2025 and reached final adoption in February 2026, with the new framework entering into force on 17 February 2026. This delay has consequences that go beyond the mere legal uncertainty. While Bulgaria was still preparing its implementation framework, in January 2026 the European Commission proposed a new EU cybersecurity package, including amendments to the NIS2 Directive and a draft Regulation
Digital Product Passports: The regulatory shift fashion brands need to plan for
Fashion and luxury brands selling into the EU should prepare for a regulatory shift that will directly affect how products are documented, traced and placed on the market. Regulatory work is now intensifying on implementing measures, including the rollout of Digital Product Passports (DPPs). DPPs are becoming a central instrument in the EU’s strategy to advance circularity, transparency and sustainability. For the fashion industry, DPPs represent not only a compliance obligation, but a shift in how product data and supply chains are managed. DPPs as a new regulatory standard A Digital Product Passport will function as a product’s digital identity, containing information on origin, material composition
Kinstellar advises on local aspects of Unilever’s demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company in preparation for its listings on the Amsterdam, London, and New York Stock Exchanges
Kinstellar, in collaboration with Linklaters, has advised Unilever and The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) on the local legal and regulatory aspects of the formation of TMICC, its separation and demerger from Unilever, and its subsequent listings on the Amsterdam, London, and New York stock exchanges. This transaction represents one of the largest and most complex global carve-outs in recent years. It follows Kinstellar’s previous involvement, alongside Linklaters, in Unilever's other major global carve-out, the US$7bn sale of its global spreads business to KKR. Kinstellar’s team provided comprehensive support throughout the entire project, from initial planning to execution, including the legal and operational
A sector under the spotlight: what recent cases in Romania and at the EU level signal for pharma compliance
Competition and regulatory authorities across Europe are showing renewed vigilance toward the pharmaceutical sector—a field shaped by the intersection of competition law, regulatory frameworks, consumer protection, and IP. Recent cases illustrate that investigations in this area are increasingly complex and precedent driven, offering valuable guidance on how authorities assess commercial behaviour. Sun Wave Pharma case – the Romanian Competition Council unveils unfair competition practices In May 2025, the Romanian Competition Council (“RCC”) announced the conclusion of its investigation into Sun Wave Pharma S.R.L., a major player in the food supplements market in Romania. The inquiry focused on allegations
Kinstellar announces leadership appointments across firmwide Sectors and Service Lines
Kinstellar is delighted to announce several leadership appointments across our Service Lines and Sectors: Horst Ebhardt (Office Managing Partner, Vienna) has been appointed Co-Head of the M&A, Corporate and Private Equity Service Line, alongside Jan Juroška (Prague Office Managing Partner), Cătălin Graure (Counsel, Bucharest) will serve as Head of the firm-wide Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Screening Service Line, and Barbara Kusak (Partner, Prague) and Rusandra Sandu (Partner, Bucharest) will lead our firm-wide Consumer & Retail Sector. Horst brings 25 years of experience in private practice, specialising in complex cross-border M&A, privatisations, and restructuring
Updates on NIS2 in Romania
Following up on our initial article regarding the transposition of the NIS2 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (“NIS2”) in Romania via Government Emergency Ordinance no. 155/30.12.2024 (“GEO 155”), we would like to inform you of the following relevant evolutions in this area as of today, 20 August 2025: The Romanian National Directorate for Cybersecurity ("DNSC”) has issued the long awaited application norms for registering with DNSC as important or essential entity. DNSC Order no. 1/2025 was published in the Official Gazette of Romania on 20 August 2025. As of publication, in-scope entities have 30 days at their disposal to register with DNSC. Registration should primarily be done using the online
Kinstellar supports Banca Intesa in its mini-bonds transaction with Diopta
Kinstellar is pleased to have supported Banca Intesa with the first issuance of collateral-free mini bonds in Serbia - a significant milestone in the development of the local capital market. This innovative transaction, worth RSD 470 million, was arranged for Diopta, a leading optical retailer in the Western Balkans. It marks a significant advancement in the expansion of financing opportunities for SMEs. Throughout this pioneering issuance, we advised Banca Intesa, ensuring a secure and efficient legal framework aligned with the highest market standards. The deal forms part of the Minibond initiative by the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, which aims to promote sustainable economic growth and develop capital markets across
The European Accessibility Act: Compliance or consequences? Is your business prepared?
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) (“EAA”) represents a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for private sector businesses across the European Union. Introduced to harmonise accessibility requirements for key products and services, the EAA is designed to improve access for persons with disabilities and foster a more inclusive internal market. With its full application date set for 28 June 2025, business entities that have not yet assessed their compliance posture face growing legal, operational, and reputational risks. The EAA expands beyond earlier public sector-focused legislation and applies to a wide range of industries—from tech to banking, telecoms, and e-commerce—making timely
Kinstellar, together with Greenberg Traurig Poland, advises on the Romanian, Czech and Hungarian legal aspects of a PLN 3.66 billion financing for CCC
Kinstellar, together with Greenberg Traurig Poland as lead counsel, is pleased to announce that it has advised again its long-standing client, CCC, the leading Polish-based footwear manufacturer and retailer with a network of over 1,000 stores across 29 countries, on the Romanian, Czech and Hungarian legal aspects of the recent financing increase. The financing, with a total value of PLN 3.66 billion (approximately EUR 850 million), was provided by a consortium of lenders including mBank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bank Pekao, BNP Paribas Bank Polska, PKO Bank Polski, Santander Bank Polska, and Bank Handlowy w Warszawie, alongside the factoring entities Santander Factoring, mFaktoring, PKO Faktoring