Despite the quite long-lasting existence of a legislative framework for conditional merger clearances and imposing remedies on undertakings, the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (Slovak NCA) has not used this option for many years. We are, however, experiencing a change in the practice of the Slovak NCA. Are we experiencing a change of trend in conditional merger clearances in Slovakia?

During the Three Seas Initiative annual general meeting in Bucharest in September 2023, Austria's Dorda, Bulgaria's Boyanov & Co., Croatia's Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, the Czech Republic's Kocian Solc Balastik, Estonia's Ellex Raidla, Hungary's Lakatos Koves & Partners, Latvia's Ellex Klavins, Lithuania's Ellex Valiunas, Poland's Wardynski and Partners, Romania's Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, Slovakia's Barger Prekop, and Slovenia's Selih & Partnerji announced they formed the Three Seas Legal Alliance, in recognition of the progress made by the Three Seas Initiative.

Kocian Solc Balastik has advised web hosting company Webglobe on the acquisition of its eBola Czech competitor operating under the eBola.cz brand name.

Clifford Chance has advised KKCG Group's Technology pillar on the complete refinancing of its existing bank indebtedness and the further recapitalization of its members, including those in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Poland, and Serbia.

Deloitte Legal has advised Italian logistics company Savino Del Bene on its acquisition of stakes in two Czech and one Slovak logistics companies operating under the Advanced brand, and its entry into the Czech market.

Clifford Chance has advised CTP on the financing for its industrial parks in Slovakia from a banking club including Erste Group Bank and Slovenska Sporitelna. White & Case reportedly advised the lenders.

Schoenherr, working with Sullivan & Cromwell, has advised the Emirates Telecommunications Group Company – operating as E& – on its acquisition of a 50%-plus-one-share stake in PPF Telecom Group's assets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia. White & Case and Karanovic & Partners advised the PPF Group on the up to EUR 2.5 billion sale and the setup of a joint venture with E&.

The EU Directives on Work-life balance and on Transparent and predictable working conditions were introduced into the Latvian national legislation in August 2022 and brought about significant changes and obligations for the employers. What do they mean for businesses?

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.

The Act No. 497/2022 Coll. on the screening of foreign investments and on amendments and supplements to certain acts, as amended, and Slovak Government Regulation No. 61/2023 Coll. establish critical foreign investments rules (the "FDI legislation"). In cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (the "Ministry") we have prepared an overview of some practical issues in connection with the FDI legislation.

Kinstellar, working with Watson Farley & Williams, has advised South Korea's Yanolja Cloud on its acquisition of Go Global Travel from the AMI Opportunities Fund.

Majernik & Mihalikova has advised DealMachine on its seed round investment from Vision Ventures. Sparring advised Vision Ventures.

Schoenherr, working alongside Jones Day, has advised GfK SE on the EUR 315 million sale of its European Consumer Panel business to YouGov. DLA Piper advised YouGov.

The Government of the Slovak Republic has introduced a draft law on the conversions of companies and cooperatives (the Draft Law) that implements EU Directive 2019/2121, amending Directive 2017/1132 with regard to cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions (the Directive).

Dentons has advised Farmak on a series of acquisitions from a portfolio company of private equity house Novator. 

Legal AI developments, the impact of whistleblowing legislation, and the potential for a shorter work week keep lawyers talking in Slovakia, while a slowdown in legislative activity has them worried, according to Eversheds Sutherland Partner Annamaria Tothova.

On June 7, 2023, the Arbitration Association of Central and Eastern Europe – ArbCEE – was officially launched in Bratislava.

CEELM: Tell us a bit about the deal and your firm’s role in getting it across the finish line.