Schoenherr has advised Wienerberger on its EUR 350 million issuance of 4.875% sustainability-linked 2023-2028 bonds. Wolf Theiss advised joint lead managers and bookrunners Commerzbank, Danske Bank, Erste Group Bank, and UniCredit Bank.

Despite concerns over automotive suppliers relocating due to geopolitical tensions, the automotive sector in Slovakia has remained resilient. The sector continues to be the backbone of the economy, with tax revenues and employment surpassing other industries, although challenges do exist. Ruzicka & Partners Managing Partner Jaroslav Ruzicka, Wolf Theiss Counsel and Head of Corporate/M&A Bruno Stefanik, and Cechova & Partners Head of Automotive Practice Michal Simunic take a closer look at the status of the sector.

WKB Lawyers has advised PGE Energia Odnawialna on its acquisition of the 24.85-megawatt Zalesie wind farm. Wolf Theiss advised the LongWing Energy Group on the sale.

Wolf Theiss, working with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, has advised South Korean waste management company IS Dongseo on its acquisition of Slovakia's BTS Technology.

Wolf Theiss, working with Herbert Smith Freehills, has advised AustralianSuper on its EUR 1.5 billion investment to acquire a significant minority stake in Vantage Data Centers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Wolf Theiss has advised Latvian private equity fund INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund and its portfolio company Eco Baltia on the acquisition of a 70% stake in Polish PVC recycler Metal-Plast. Ozog Tomczykowski advised the target's shareholders on the sale. Sorainen reportedly advised INVL and Eco Baltia as well.

Where behavior is investigated in parallel by the Austrian competition authorities and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO), the latter usually requests the competition authorities to provide it with copies of their files, including leniency statements and settlement submissions that have been filed with the Federal Competition Authority (FCA), and adds (parts of) these documents to its own file. Victims of competition law infringements can thus indirectly get access to leniency statements and settlement submissions through an inspection of the PPO’s file. This practice risks weakening the effectiveness of the Austrian leniency program and settlement procedure as it may deter undertakings from cooperating with the FCA.

The Government Decree on the winter administrative break is out. Here’s what to expect.

Wolf Theiss has advised UniCredit Bank Austria, CaixaBank, La Banque Postale, and Bondholders SL on a EUR 113 million syndicated financing for RML Infrastruktur for the roll-out, operation, and maintenance of an open-access fiber-to-the-home network in Austria's Liezen district. PHH reportedly advised Meridiam.

Wolf Theiss has advised the JP Hospitality Investors Club on a hotel lease agreement with Treasurests Hospitality. Suppan Spiegl Zeller reportedly advised Treasurests Hospitality.

On 11 July 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published a public statement (“ESMA Statement”) regarding sustainability-related disclosure requirements in prospectuses for both equity and non-equity securities.

Schoenherr has advised Greiner Group member Neveon Holding on the sale of its automotive division consisting of Greiner Perfoam and its subsidiaries to Treves. Wolf Theiss advised Treves.

Although the deadline for transposing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the Whistleblowing Directive) into national law passed on 17 December 2021, the Czech Republic has been among those Member States struggling to adopt a corresponding act into local legislation. Nonetheless, after turbulent discussions and legislative proposals, the bill has finally been passed and came into force on 1 August 2023.

Binder Groesswang, working with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, has advised French investment company Wendel and other shareholders on their sale of Constantia Flexibles to One Rock Capital Partners. Wolf Theiss, working with Latham & Watkins, advised One Rock. Hamburg's Klawitter Neben Plath Zintler reportedly advised Wendel as well.

The upcoming parliamentary elections at the end of September are the talk of the town in Slovakia, with a slew of interesting legislative changes – including those covering whistleblowing, corporate restructurings, and construction – coming in before the buzzer, according to Wolf Theiss Managing Partner Katarina Matulnikova.

Wolf Theiss has advised Convera on the acquisition of parts of the Austrian business of Western Union.

By 25 June 2023, the transitional provisions of the Collective Redress Directive should have been applicable throughout the EU. Austria – like several other EU Member States – did not meet this deadline. The following article deals with potential transposition options, for the Collective Redress Directive, by the Austrian legislator.

Did You Know that a total of 14 partners at Bulgarian law firms have worked on multiple client matters in that country so far this year? That group is led by Boris Teknedzhiev of Tokushev & Partners, who has worked on five reported Bulgarian client matters in 2023.