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Kinstellar strengthens its Corporate and M&A team in Hungary, with a senior hire
Kinstellar is delighted to announce the return of László Palócz, a leading M&A lawyer, to our Budapest office, as Counsel, effective 20 January 2025. László spent over six years at Kinstellar earlier in his career, during which his outstanding work on complex corporate M&A transactions and real estate matters earned him a promotion to Senior Associate. László brings in-depth expertise in multiple industries, having represented global investors, asset managers, and multinational corporations in landmark projects, including acquisitions, disposals, and lease negotiations. He has played key roles as part of various high-profile M&A transactions advising on complex legal matters and also has significant
Changes to the definition of ultimate beneficial owner in Slovakia
With effect from 15 January 2025, Slovak Act No. 297/2008 Coll. on the Protection against Legalisation of Proceeds from Crime and on the Protection against Financing of Terrorism (the AML Act) has been amended to expand the definition of ultimate beneficial owner (the UBO). While the original criteria for identifying UBO remain in force, some other natural persons will be now newly identified as UBOs under the AML Act. 1 Who qualifies as a UBO under the amended criteria? 1.1 General partnership and limited partnership For a general partnership (in Slovak: verejná obchodná spoločnosť) and a limited partnership (in Slovak: komanditná spoločnosť), a UBO is a natural person who: (a)
Kinstellar and KST Law assist Quexco Incorporated on successful completion of Mutlu Akü acquisition
Kinstellar and KST Law are proud to have successfully advised Quexco Incorporated, a US-based private holding company, on completing the acquisition of 100% of Mutlu Akü, a leading auto battery manufacturer in Türkiye with a waste battery recycling facility. This complex cross-border transaction involved financial structuring, including refinancing Mutlu Akü's debt and securing a capex loan facility, syndicated by Garanti Bank. The closing process was led by Partners Emre Özer and Mert Elçin, supported by Senior Associate Şeyma Olğun, and Associates Sıla Şaylı, Helin Akbulut and Nihal Dilan Cantürk. Kinstellar operates in Turkey in cooperation with KST Law, a full-service corporate law firm based
Kinstellar advises Genesis Growth on strategic stake in LLP Group
Kinstellar has successfully advised Genesis Growth Equity Fund I on the acquisition of a majority stake in LLP Group, a prominent business software consultancy specialising in financial and enterprise asset management solutions. Kinstellar provided legal counsel to Genesis Growth in this transaction, ensuring comprehensive guidance throughout the acquisition process. The deal marks a strategic investment aimed at accelerating LLP Group’s growth and expanding its offerings globally. LLP’s founders and shareholders will retain a minority stake, with a leadership transition appointing Tim Smulders as CEO. The advisory team was led by Kinstellar’s experts, supported by Brouxel & Rabia, with Grant Thornton
Kinstellar advises European Imaging Group on acquisition of MEGAPIXEL
Kinstellar has successfully advised European Imaging Group Limited (EIG), a portfolio company of the Aurelius Group, on the acquisition of MEGAPIXEL, a leader in the Czech market for photographic equipment and related services. Kinstellar provided comprehensive legal support to EIG throughout the transaction, including due diligence, negotiation of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Shareholders' Agreement (SHA), and closing of the transaction. The Kinstellar team was led by Jan Juroška (Managing Partner) and Matěj Večeřa (Senior Associate) and included Petr Bratský (Managing Associate), Jakub Šťastný and Lenka Petráková (both Senior Associates), and a team of Junior Associates: Lucie Kunclová
Kinstellar advises Shamrock Capital on its strategic investment in DE-YAN in Serbia
Kinstellar’s team in Serbia, working in collaboration with and through the referral of the international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, has advised Shamrock Capital, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, on its strategic investment in DE-YAN, a leading global experiential consultancy known for its top-tier design, integrated creative strategy and digital innovation. Kinstellar has provided legal support throughout the process, including the preparation of legal due diligence, assistance with the transaction documentation, and advising on pre- and post-closing activities. The team was led by Managing Associate Mina Srećković, along with Managing Associate Kristina Stojanović, Senior Associates Mario
Kinstellar advises Mpac Group on a market-leading move involving a major acquisition in Romania
Kinstellar is proud to announce that it has advised Mpac Group, a leading UK-based company specializing in packaging automation, on the cross-border acquisition of the CSi Palletising group, a leading provider of end-of-line automation and palletising solutions. The EUR 56 million deal includes the indirect acquisition of two Romanian subsidiaries, CSI Romania and Alpha Las, and is aligned with Mpac Group’s strategy to enhance its delivery of comprehensive automation solutions while integrating specialized manufacturing expertise into its global supply chain. Kinstellar’s legal team delivered comprehensive support on all Romanian law aspects of the transaction, with Osborne Clarke acting as lead counsel. Kinstellar
Kinstellar advises UEG on closing the acquisition of a solar project in Bulgaria with a forecasted capacity of 250 MW
Kinstellar assisted United Energy Group (UEG)’s internal legal team to successfully complete the acquisition of Green Profit EOOD, a developer of a photovoltaic (PV) project under construction. The Simeonovgrad-Polyanovo PV project, located in southern Bulgaria, has a forecasted capacity of 250 MW. The acquisition, which was finalised on 15 November 2024, marks a significant expansion for UEG, a Hong Kong-based producer of traditional and renewable energy. The team that advised UEG throughout the completion of the project was led by Nina Tsifudina (Partner) and Atanas Mihaylov (Counsel) and included Mladen Minev (Counsel), Simeon Vachev and Nikolay Gergov (Senior Associates).
Kinstellar advises Eleven Ventures on its investment in Cloud Office
Kinstellar has advised Eleven Ventures, a pioneer in early-stage investing in Central and Eastern Europe, on the investment in Cloud Office, a leading Google Cloud Partner serving 650+ customers across EMEA, with a team of 60+ engineers, through subscription of preference shares and convertible debt instrument. One of Eleven’s largest investments in a Bulgarian company to date, the funds will support Cloud Office's expansion into Greece. The team was led by Nina Tsifudina (Partner) and included Georgi Kanev (Managing Associate), Nikolay Gergov (Senior Associate), Simona Damyanova (Junior Associate).
Kinstellar advises Ardian on the Romanian side of the transaction for the acquisition of a majority interest in Vista Vision
Kinstellar is proud to have advised Ardian, one of the world’s leading private equity investment companies, on the Romanian side of the transaction for the acquisition of a majority interest in Vista Vision, a leading provider of healthcare services specialising in ophthalmic and refractive surgery. The transaction includes the indirect acquisition of 100% of the shares in two Romanian subsidiaries, Vista Vision and SIM Vision. Headquartered in Milan, Vista Vision was founded in 2003 and currently operates 12 clinics across Italy and five in Romania. The company is a leader in opthalmology healthcare, specialized in laser eye surgery for the correction of myopia and cataract surgery. Kinstellar’s legal team
Kinstellar advises Orbico on strategic acquisition in Ukraine
Kinstellar has acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to Orbico Group on the acquisition of a controlling stake in SAV 92, a leading Ukrainian distributor of branded international and Ukrainian food and non-food products. This multi-stage transaction marks a significant step in Orbico's strategic expansion into the Ukrainian market. Orbico Group is a leading distributor of a large number of globally known brands ranging from beauty care to motor oil products. Orbico cooperates with more than 180 suppliers, manages more than 500 global and local brands, and supplies to more than 59,000 customers. Kinstellar’s advice included due diligence, securing unconditional merger control clearances for a gradual transfer of control
The legal effects of electronic signatures from the perspective of Law No. 214/2024 in Romania
On 8 October 2024, the Romanian law on the use of electronic signatures, timestamps and the provision of trust services based on these ("Electronic Signature Law") entered into force. The legislation introduces a new legal framework for electronic signatures, in close alignment with Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market ("eIDAS Regulation"). Particularities of the legal effects depending on the type of electronic signature used: A. Qualified electronic signature – this is a signature created by a qualified electronic signature-creation device based on a qualified certificate for electronic signatures. While the Electronic