WKB Lawyers, working alongside Norway-based Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm, has advised Orkla on the sale of a 40% stake in Orkla Food Ingredients to Rhone. Norway's Thommessen reportedly advised Rhone.

The new provisions of the Code of Commercial Companies, which came into force on 15 September 2023, include a number of changes regarding cross-border and domestic mergers, divisions and conversions of commercial law companies. This is yet another major amendment to the Act, introduced less than a year after a significant amendment specifically concerning the formation and operation of capital groups, as well as changes to the rules of operation of company bodies, came into force.

The amendment to the Code of Commercial Companies (CCC), which came into force on 15 September 2023, introduced the possibility of dividing commercial companies by separation – that is, in essence, the creation of subsidiaries within which property can be transferred using the principle of general succession. A number of changes have also been introduced with regard to international and domestic mergers.

The latest amendment to the Labour Code implemented, among other things, the EU Directives on Work-life Balance and on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions into Czech law. The amendment was enacted by the President of the Czech Republic on 17 September 2023 and entered into force shortly thereafter, on 1 October 2023. The deadline for transposing these directives had already passed, so it is a case of better late than never.

Wolf Theiss has advised joint lead managers Erste Group Bank, Hypo-Bank Burgenland, Hypo Noe Landesbank fur Niederoesterreich and Wien, Raiffeisen Bank International, and UniCredit Bank on the Federal State of Lower Austria’s EUR 500 million issuance of 3.625% 2023-2033 bearer bonds. Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner reportedly advised the issuer.

Wolf Theiss has advised Ballingslov International on the acquisition of Dan-Kuechen. Binder Groesswang advised Dan-Kuechen on the sale.

Did You Know that the ten firms that have worked on the most client matters reported by CEE Legal Matters through Q3 of 2023 are equally divided between international and regional powerhouses? According to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Magic Circle-member Clifford Chance, which has worked on a remarkable 66 deals reported by CEE Legal Matters in the first nine months of 2023, leads the pack, but Vienna-based Schoenherr is close behind with 64.

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.