Clifford Chance has advised Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, a. s., as mandated lead arranger, facility agent, security agent, and underwriter on the initial finance documentation and in relation to subsequent syndication and transactional closing with Ceska Sporitelna, a.s. and the EBRD on financing provided to Karlovarske Mineralni Vody's for its acquisition of PepsiCo's assets and operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Kocian Solc Balastik advised KMV on the financing and on the underlying acquisition, and represented KMV in proceedings before the Czech Competition Authority.
The transaction was approved by the Competition Authority on October 30, 2018, and closed and settled on October 31. As a result of the deal, KMV has become the largest distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in Central Europe.
Clifford Chance's Prague-based team advising COB on Czech and English law aspects of the financing was led by Partner Milos Felgr. English law advice was provided by Clifford Chance Senior Associate Marian Husar, and Czech law aspects of the transaction were executed by Associate Dominik Vojta.
KSB’s team was led by Partner Dagmar Dubecka and included Partner Pavel Dejl and Associates Jan Beres, Jana Guricova, Martin Vrab, and David Linek.
Editor's Note: After this article was published, Cechova & Partners announced that it had advised Slovakia Karlovarska Mineralni Vody "on financing, acquisition and merger clearance in Slovakia." The firm's team was led by Partners Katarina Cechova, Tomas Maretta, and Lenka Subenikova.
Subsequently, Hungary's Lakatos, Koves & Partners announced that it had advised Karlovarske Mineralni Vodi on the acquisition of distribution rights for and all distribution related assets of Pepsi Co products in Hungary. LKT’s team was composed of Partners Ivan Solyom and Richard Lock and Associate Adrienn Mandoki.
