Wolf Theiss, working with Jeantet, has advised Ancala on the acquisition of Elektrana Grubisno Polje from Akuo Energy. Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka reportedly advised Akuo Energy.

Schoenherr, working with Rutgers & Posch, has advised the shareholders of Resalta on the disposal of a controlling stake in Resalta BV Netherlands, including its Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, and Czech Republic subsidiaries, to Aggreko. A&O Shearman reportedly advised Aggreko.

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised the Talan Group on its sale of a 60% stake in Solvis to Advance Capital Partners. Sole practitioners Branimir Zarkovic and Toni Smrcek advised ACP.

Did you know that the CEE Q1 leaderboards are available through the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website?

Croatia ranks third among European Union countries in terms of home ownership, with a significant 91% of Croatians residing in real properties they either own or are owned by a household member. Typically, Croatians primarily use these owned residential properties for personal residential purposes. However, residential real property ownership is also regarded as a lucrative investment avenue. Individuals and companies often invest in real properties, either residential or commercial, on a buy-to-let model. In recent years, a hybrid model of aparthotels arose on the Adriatic coast, in the spatial zones designated for tourism industry. The model allows private investors to own a condominium unit in the tourism zone, utilising it for a specific period annually while deriving profit from its commercial use for the remaining period.

In public procurement, the term bid rigging (also called collusive tendering) describes unlawful agreements between bidders with the intention of distorting the competition in award procedures and allowing a preferred tenderer to win the public contract while giving the impression that the process is truly competitive. The hidden agenda is often to force a high contract price that is not appropriate given the state of the market.

In 2023, Croatia’s M&A market faced unexpected challenges on several fronts. Lovric, Novokmet & Partners Partner Mate Lovric and Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka Senior Partner Damir Topic discuss the market’s slowdown in the year behind us.

Did you know that the early 2024 deal leaderboards are already available via the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website?

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised borrower Zadar Resort and sponsor Dogus Croatia on a EUR 31.2 million loan with Privredna Banka Zagreb and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development as the mandated lead arrangers. Mamic Peric Reberski Rimac advised Privredna Banka Zagreb and the CBRD.

One of the most important questions within every M&A deal is whether the transaction at hand is subject to merger clearance. The answer to said question might impact the timeline and (potentially) the successful completion of the deal itself. Up until Towercast cases (C-449/21), the analysis was straightforward by applying the clear turnover-based rules defining the applicability of the Regulation No 139/2004 (“Merger Regulation”).

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Plava Laguna on the sale of Bonavia – a four-star hotel in Rijeka – to Bonavia Rijeka. Savoric & Partners advised the buyers.

Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Hungary-based fruit and tree nut farming company Apple Heaven on the purchase of shares in Rabo.

Croatia’s energy and real estate sectors are well-positioned for growth, while frequently changing legislation and an ongoing strike by judicial clerks complicate the lives of lawyers, according to Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka Senior Partner Mario Krka.

Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka has advised Germany's Possehl Digital on its acquisition of a minority stake in Croatian Osijek-based IT company Mono.

Contributed by Divjak, Topic, Bahtijarevic & Krka.

Although in most respects the law firm business in Central Europe is on par with other sophisticated practices in the rest of the world, coaching is one thing that has not been as widely adopted as elsewhere. This article addresses the questions of what coaching is, what it offers lawyers and law firms, and whether it should be more widely embraced by the legal profession in Central Europe.

Contributed by Divjak, Topic & Bahtijarevic.