CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Until recently, Bulgaria was one of the few remaining EU countries not to have adopted a foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime. However, this was set to change with the introduction of a bill in late June 2023 to amend the Investment Promotion Act. This amendment implements the screening mechanism outlined in Regulation (EU) 2019/452 (the "EU FDI Screening Regulation").
BDK Advokati has advised Atlantic Grupa on its acquisition of Strauss Adriatic – the owner of Serbian coffee brands Doncafe and C Kafa – from the Strauss Group. Sole practitioner Sarig Shalhav reportedly advised the Strauss Group.
Cobalt has advised the owners of Lithuanian wood pellet manufacturer Granulita on the sale of the company to Zalvaris. PwC Legal advised the buyers.
The Aksan Law Firm has advised rapid prototyping company Rototip on its EUR 1 million investment round led by Act Venture Partners and including Heartfelt and APY Ventures.
MJH Moskwa, Jarmul, Haladyj has advised a consortium of investors including Smyk Management Board President Michal Grom, Maciej Zuzalek, and an Accession Capital Partners-managed private equity fund on the management buyout of Smyk from the Bridgepoint private equity fund.
Wolf Theiss, working with Ropes & Gray, has advised IT services company Virtusa on its acquisition of Bulgarian digital innovation, automation, and seamless integration specialist Bright Consulting.
BPV Huegel has advised AI researcher Josef Hochreiter on founding the NXAI company together with Netural X and the Pierer Digital Holding. Oberhammer Rechtsanwaelte reportedly advised the other JV partners.
