CMS has advised a group of investors on a Sofina-led EUR 220 million series D financing round for the Rohlik Group. White & Case advised the Rohlik Group. Linklaters reportedly advised Sofina. Pierstone reportedly advised some of the investors.
Founded in 2014, Rohlik is a grocery retailer in the Czech Republic and CEE, offering over one million active customers access to more than 17,000 items. Rohlik currently operates in Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Munich, and Frankfurt and will soon be launched in Hamburg, Milan, Bucharest, and Madrid. According to CMS, "the newly raised funds will be used to drive further expansion and accelerate technological innovation."
Initially founded as an engineering conglomerate 120 years ago, Belgium's Sofina is now a listed investment company holding equity participations in Europe, the US, and Asia. It focuses on consumer and retail, digital transformation, education, and healthcare. The holding company is headquartered in Brussels with offices in Singapore.
Last year, CMS and White & Case advised on both the EUR 190 million Series B (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 9, 2021) and the EUR 100 million Series C (as reported on July 6, 2021) financing rounds for the Rohlik Group.
"We are delighted to have advised on the further fundraising," CMS Managing Partner in Prague and Bratislava Helen Rodwell commented. "Rohlik’s unique proposition and outstanding customer service make it a compelling prospect for investors, who have been more cautious in the current economic and international climate."
The CMS team included Rodwell and Prague-based Associates Stepan Havranek, Tristan O’Connor, and Moritz Kopka, Bucharest-based Partner Rodica Manea, Consultant David Cranfield, and Associate Cristina Ciomos, Vienna-based Partner Alexander Rakosi and Attorney Florian Mayer, Budapest-based Senior Associate Miklos Boros, with further team members in Germany, Spain, and Italy.
The White & Case team included Partners Jan Andrusko and Jan Stejskal, Associates Iva Cechrakova and Kamila Dankova, and Legal Intern Vaclav Blazek.
