The current Covid-19 situation has changed many aspects of the business environment, and the resulting economic slowdown has prompted legislators worldwide to take measures to ease the situation for local economic players. Thus far, measures proposed by the Czech Government have generally only deferred tax liabilities and tax administrative duties, rather than eliminating them altogether. Of the few permanent types of relief from public duties, a proposal to abolish the Czech real estate transfer tax (RETT) is probably the most significant.

I have always been a fan of marketing and felt that there was something special about it, even back before I had any real practical experience with it. My career started at an international law firm – Hogan Lovells – where marketing was handled both centrally and locally. I became a fan of the field and learned to consider the brand as something potentially very valuable and helpful both in attracting new clients and employees and in retaining existing ones. It also showed me that marketing activities must be conducted systematically.

BPV Braun Partners has advised Generali Investments CEE, an investment company acting on behalf of the Generali Real Estate Fund, on the acquisition of an early 20th-century building in Prague from Ferd s.r.o. Ferd was reportedly advised by AK Svec Rychterova on the transaction.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised ING Bank Slaski on financing to an unidentified borrower for the acquisition of two LET Aircraft Industries L-410 UVP E-20 aircrafts, which also included special packages containing radars, long-range observation systems, SATCOM datalink, automatic vessel ID system, rescue equipment allowing for carrying out maritime patrol tasks, and hardware for supporting maritime SAR operations.

Glatzova & Co has advised Bike Fun Nederland B.V. on the sale of Bike Fun International, a company based in the Czech city of Koprivnice, to ConsilTech. HKR advised ConsilTech on the deal.

This article is an excerpt of Producing in CEE, Dentons’ guide to tax and financial incentives for film, television and digital media production.

Havel & Partners has advised Austria's Innofreight Consulting & Logistics on the formation of a joint venture with Slovakia's Budamar Logistics. Hamala Kluch Viglasky advised Budamar Logistics on the deal.

Clifford Chance and Switzerland's Lenz & Staehelin have advised the KKCG AG investment company and pan-European lottery operator the Sazka Group on the EUR 500 million investment into the Sazka by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management. Baker McKenzie advised Apollo.

Since this spring, the Czech Republic has been struggling with the coronavirus SARS CoV-2. The response to the pandemic in the field of labour law was the creation of the so-called Antivirus programme, which aimed to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic by providing a state-backed financial contribution to salary costs. This should prevent mass redundancies and keep unemployment levels under control. Schemes A to C of the Antivirus programme were created on an ad hoc basis as an immediate response to the negative effects of the pandemic.

The Czech office of Kinstellar has advised Kemp Technologies on its acquisition of Czech Republic-based Flowmon from unspecified sellers. Forlex advised the sellers.

Former Kocian Solc Balastik Counsel Rainer Frank has joined Dentons to lead the Czech-German collaboration group in the firm’s office in Prague.

Kinstellar has advised GTT Communications on the USD 2.15 billion sale of its business infrastructure in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe to I Squared Capital. Linklaters advised the buyer on the deal.

The Czech office of Schoenherr has advised the Auto Palace Group, a Czech subsidiary of the Dutch AutoBinck Group, on the acquisition of car dealerships in Prague and Karlovy Vary from CarPoint Karlovy Vary s.r.o., which was advised by Baroch Sobota.

Kinstellar's Prague office has advised Veolia on its acquisition of Prazska Teplarenska from EP Energy, a subsidiary of the EPH Group.

The political landscape in the Czech Republic might soon see a change, Schoenherr Partner Vladimir Cizek says, as “the recent regional elections shook the position of the leading party.” Still, he doesn't expect it to have much impact on foreign investment. He notes that previous political changes have not dissuaded investors from coming to the country, and their stream has been constant for decades.

Kinstellar has re-launched its Restructuring and Insolvency practice, with the new iteration to be co-led by Csilla Andreko, Head of Kinstellar's Banking & Finance practice, and Denise Hamer, Kinstellar Head of C/SEE Asset Solutions.

PRK Partners has advised Euroserum on the sale of its international operations to the Czech Republic-based Eligo. Kocian Solc Balastik reportedly advised Eligo.

Clifford Chance’s Prague office has advised sole lead manager J&T Banka and arranger J&T IB Capital Markets on Energo-Pro Green Finance’s issuance of bonds valued at CZK 530 million.