(source: SME)
The sale of a share in an e-shop with bicycles, the changeover in the steelworks based in Žiar nad Hronom in central Slovakia, and the purchase of Slovak farms.
These are among the biggest and most interesting deals the largest law firms in Slovakia active in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) have been involved in over the past 12 months, provided to The Slovak Spectator newspaper and the Sme daily.
M&A: 10 largest law firms
Allen & Overy
TaylorWessing e/n/w/c
HAVEL & PARTNERS
Kinstellar
WOLF THEISS
G. Lehnert
HKV Law Firm
Advokátska kancelária RELEVANS
Hillbridges
Advokátska kancelária MCL
Ranking created based on the following criteria (values for 2022): number of M&A deals with regard to reward law firm received for them (70% weight); sales revenues (10% weight); points for number of lawyers (20% weight). The ranking reflects also the proportion of each firm’s hours spent on this category.
The deals were dominated by transactions consulting.
Norwegian giant buys Slovak steelworks
The VUM company from Žiar nad Hronom has been manufacturing carbon-based products used in the production of ferroalloys and calcium carbide for over 20 years. It became part of the international group Elkem ASA in June 2023, and rebranded to Elkem Carbon Slovakia. It is a significant business step for the Slovak company and is expected to help with investments into new technologies and improving the work environment.
The Elkem ASA group received legal advice from the Allen & Overy law firm, which tops the Largest Law Firm ranking in the M&A category.
Its lawyers also counselled VÚB bank, which acquired a majority stake (55.26 percent) in the VÚB Generali DSS pensions funds management company. Until last year, the bank owned a 50-percent stock, while the other half was controlled by Generali Česká Pojišťovna.
“Given that the target operates in a highly regulated involvement, the deal required multiple regulatory approvals – three from the National Bank of Slovakia and one from the European Central Bank,” said Martin Magál, managing partner at Allen & Overy.
A project supporting sustainability
In the energy sector, the Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) gas utility joined forces with the Brantner company in 2023, resulting in the joint venture CEBZ, which will build and operate energy and biological waste recovery centres in selected locations across Slovakia.
