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Deals October 2024

Kinstellar advises Wienerberger on the acquisition of Czech concrete paver manufacturer Betonárna Lesonice

Kinstellar has successfully advised Wienerberger on the acquisition of Betonárna Lesonice, a Czech manufacturer of concrete pavers. This strategic acquisition strengthens Wienerberger’s position in the construction and infrastructure sectors, addressing the growing demand for concrete paving and advanced sound insulation solutions in the Czech market. Kinstellar acted as legal counsel to Wienerberger, providing full-scope advisory throughout the transaction. The team was co-led by Barbara Kusak (Partner) and Michal Janíček (Counsel), with key support from Matěj Bolek (Senior Associate), Tereza Marek, Štěpán Gřešák, Matěj Korduliak (Associates), and Pavel Hrdý (Junior Associate). BDO provided financial

Deals October 2024

Kinstellar advises A1 on the acquisition of a significant greenfield site in Serbia

Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has successfully advised A1 Srbija, a leading telecommunications company in Serbia, on the acquisition of a significant greenfield site in Serbia. A1 Group is a leading telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe, offering advanced communication solutions and digital services to millions of users. Operating in multiple countries including Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, A1 Group provides mobile, broadband, TV, and cloud services. Kinstellar provided full legal support throughout the process, including the legal due diligence of the location, negotiations with the seller, signing and notarization of the purchase agreement. This transaction marks another

Deals October 2024

Kinstellar advises Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC on the sale of Bereke Bank, in Kazakhstan

Kinstellar has advised Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC on the KZT 65 billion (approx. US$135 million) sale of Bereke Bank JSC to Lesha Bank LLC, the first independent Shari'a-compliant Bank authorized by the Qatar Financial Center Regulatory Authority (QFCRA), and a listed entity on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE: QFBQ). This significant transaction aligns with the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s drive for foreign investment in Kazakhstan's financial sector. Our involvement highlights our ability to navigate complex legal frameworks, particularly when dealing with government entities. This deal continues to demonstrate Kinstellar’s strong M&A capabilities on transactions involving Kazakhstan and English

Deals October 2024

Kinstellar advises Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel S.A. on the acquisition of Magyar Cetelem Bank, Hungary

Kinstellar has successfully advised Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel S.A. (owner of Cofidis Bank) on the acquisition of BNP Paribas’s Hungarian subsidiary, Magyar Cetelem Bank. This transaction exemplifies the seamless and efficient teamwork across service lines at Kinstellar's Budapest office. Kinstellar provided comprehensive assistance to Cofidis Bank throughout the entire transaction process, which included extensive corporate support, banking regulatory approvals, merger clearance, competition law considerations, and the closing of the transaction. It was an exceptionally complex deal, characterized by prolonged and detailed negotiations. The Kinstellar team in Budapest was led by Gábor Gelencsér

Deals October 2024

Kinstellar advises the European defence giant KNDS on opening a subsidiary in Ukraine

Kinstellar is pleased to assist KNDS, the Franco-German military land systems manufacturer, and a key industrial supporter of Ukraine’s battle against Russian aggression, on establishing a subsidiary in Ukraine to support the cooperation between the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian armaments industry and KNDS in equipment maintenance, production of spare parts and ammunition, leading to the manufacture of complete weapons systems. Partner and Head of the Defence & Security sector, Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova, led the firm’s project team.  We are proud to support KNDS Group, whose efforts are crucial to Ukraine’s ability to sustain the fight against the Russian aggressor.Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova, Partner

News October 2024

Hugh Owen, a top M&A lawyer in Central and South Eastern Europe, joins Kinstellar as Partner

Kinstellar is very pleased to announce that Hugh Owen joins the Firm as a Partner, effective 1 October 2024. Hugh is a very well-known leading M&A lawyer in the Central and South Eastern European region with an impressive track record. He spent over 23 years at Allen & Overy, including 13 years as a partner. He then ran his own law firm and M&A training business for four years as a sole practitioner, closing over 20 deals with a combined value of over EUR 2.5 billion. For two years from July 2022 to June 2024 he served as Head of Legal Business Solutions for PwC CEE, responsible for the strategy for Legal in over 25 jurisdictions, including Eurasia, core CEE countries, the Baltics, Ukraine and South-Eastern

Deals September 2024

Kinstellar advises MEREP on the acquisition of 50% ownership interest in OC Point Liptovský Mikuláš

Kinstellar has successfully advised Mitiska European Real Estate Partners 3 on the acquisition of a 50% ownership interest in OP Centrum Retail 2 from OPC Group. The target of the transaction, OP Centrum Retail 2, is currently developing a retail park in Liptovský Mikuláš in northern Slovakia.   Mitiska European Real Estate Partners 3 (“MEREP 3”) is a fund owned by Mitiska REIM, a leading specialist investor in European convenience real estate. Kinstellar has also recently advised Mitiska REIM on the acquisition of four other retail parks from OPC Group—including Point Skalica, Point Sládkovičovo, Point Žiar nad Hronom, and Point Veľké Kapušany—as part of Mitiska REIM’s plans to expand its retail

Deals September 2024

Kinstellar and KST Law advise Quexco Incorporated on its acquisition of Mutlu Akü

Kinstellar and KST Law are delighted to have advised Quexco Incorporated, a US-based diversified, private holding company with investments in the lubricants space and a rich history, previously operating in the battery industry, on its acquisition of Mutlu Akü, one of the major auto battery manufacturers in Turkey, and owner of a waste battery recycling facility, from Metair International Holdings Coöperatief U.A. (a member of Metair Group, a South African listed company). The team was led by Partner Emre Özer, supported by Senior Associate Şeyma Olğun, and Associate Sıla Şaylı. Kinstellar worked in close collaboration with Bowmans, as to South African law, throughout the transaction. Completion of the transaction is

Insights September 2024

Purpose of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and application of AIFC Law, in Kazakhstan

We have gathered practical insights based on case studies within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), with a focus on the application of law in this jurisdiction. In this brief note, we aim to summarize these key points and share them with potential AIFC participants, investors, and professionals in the legal and financial sectors. It is important to note that this is not an academic article or legal advice, but rather practical observations. Purpose of the AIFC and application of AIFC Law As a starting point, the AIFC, located in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, was created to serve as a specialized financial hub, fostering investments and promoting regulated financial services. What distinguishes

Deals September 2024

Kinstellar advises Nova Ljubljanska Banka on successful completion of Summit Leasing Slovenia acquisition

Kinstellar is proud to have successfully advised Nova Ljubljanska Banka, Slovenia’s largest banking group, on completing the acquisition of 100% of SLS HOLDCO, the parent company of Summit Leasing Slovenija, and its subsidiaries, including Croatian Mobil Leasing. After receiving all required regulatory and anti-trust approvals, NLB became the sole shareholder. The Kinstellar team, led by Partner Edmund Emre Özer and supported by Associate Bianka Kovacs, collaborated closely with Kavcic, Bracun & Partners in Slovenia on the transaction.

Insights September 2024

Kinstellar advises France’s NJJ Capital on the landmark roll-up of businesses in the telecommunications sector in Ukraine

Kinstellar is proud to have acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to NJJ Capital, the investment company of France’s leading technology entrepreneur Xavier Niel, on the acquisition and merger of Datagroup-Volia, one of Ukraine’s largest fixed telecom and pay-TV providers, and Lifecell, Ukraine’s third-largest mobile operator. This landmark transaction is a significant consolidation of and investment in the Ukrainian telecoms market, that will bring many benefits to telecoms consumers, especially during wartime circumstances. Kinstellar’s legal team provided comprehensive Ukrainian law advice to NJJ Capital throughout the transaction. Lead lawyer and office managing partner Olena Kuchynska, noted:

Deals September 2024

Kinstellar advises France’s NJJ Capital on the landmark roll-up of businesses in the telecommunications sector in Ukraine

Kinstellar is proud to have acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to French tech entrepreneur Xavier Niel’s investment company, NJJ Capital, in the acquisition and merger of Datagroup-Volia, one of Ukraine’s largest fixed telecom and pay-TV providers, and Lifecell, Ukraine’s third-largest mobile operator. This landmark transaction is a significant consolidation of and investment in the Ukrainian telecoms market, that will bring many benefits to telecoms consumers, especially during wartime circumstances. Kinstellar’s legal team provided comprehensive Ukrainian law advice to NJJ Capital throughout the transaction. We hope that this investment serves as a signal to other foreign investors to not wait to the