The Legal 500

Schoenherr

TUCHLAUBEN 17, 1010 WIEN, AUSTRIA
Tel:
Work +43 1 53 43 70
Fax:
Fax +43 1 53 43 76 100
Web:
www.schoenherr.eu
Email:

Austria/CEE: Schoenherr further expands its strong standing in new Chambers Global rankings

April 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr's standing as a leading corporate law firm in Central and Europe Europe (CEE) has once again been confirmed by the rankings that Chambers & Partners, the distinguished legal directories publisher, released at the end of last week. Schoenherr practice areas in Austria and across CEE received a total of 17 rankings in the 2013 edition of Chambers Global, including seven top tier ("Band 1") rankings. Read more...

Read more…

Austria: Schoenherr advises NOVOMATIC on acquisition of majority stake in I-NEW

April 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading corporate law firm in Central and Eastern Europe, advised NOVOMATIC AG, one of the world's largest producers and operators of gaming technologies, in connection with its investment in I-NEW Unified Mobile Solutions AG. Following the 19 April 2013 signing, NOVOMATIC's acquisition of a 50.097 percent stake in I-NEW is expected to close in around two months. The parties agreed to keep the financial terms of the transaction confidential. Read more...

Read more…

Schoenherr further expands its strong standing in new Chambers Global rankings

March 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr's standing as a leading corporate law firm in Central and Europe Europe (CEE) has once again been confirmed by the rankings that Chambers & Partners, the distinguished legal directories publisher, released at the end of last week. Schoenherr practice areas in Austria and across CEE received a total of 17 rankings in the 2013 edition of Chambers Global, including seven top tier ("Band 1") rankings.

Read more…

Austria/Turkey: Schoenherr advises Ganahl group on its Turkey expansion

February 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr advised Austrian packaging group Ganahl AG on the acquisition of MKB Oluklu Mukavva Kutu ve Ambalaj San. Tic. A.S. ("MKB"). MKB is active in the corrugated packaging industry in Turkey, a sector which is currently attracting a lot of foreign investors. The transaction has been completed in February this year. The parties agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

Read more…

schoenherr appoints seven new partners in its Bucharest, Ljubljana and Warsaw offices

February 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

schoenherr is further strengthening its standing as a leading corporate law firm in Central and Eastern Europe by appointing seven attorneys as new local partners in its offices in Poland, Slovenia and Romania. Agata Demuth joins schoenherr as a partner in its Warsaw office, while Maja Žgajnar joins the firm as a partner in Ljubljana. In Bucharest, five longer-serving attorneys were promoted to local partners: Oanu Alexandru, Simona Chirică, Monica Cojocaru, Mădălina Neagu and Silvia Popa.

Read more…

AT: Schoenherr publishes second edition of English-language basic primer on Austrian employment

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The need for English-language specialist literature on legal issues in Austria has risen with the increasing internationalisation of firms active in the country. Now available in a revised second edition, "Employment Law: A Basic Primer" provides interested practitioners with an overview of the most important provisions of Austrian employment law.

Read more…

AT/CEE: Schoenherr advises bauMax creditors on financial restructuring package

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading full-service corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised a group of some 40 Austrian and international creditors (lenders, bondholders and hedge counterparties) on the negotiation and execution of a comprehensive financial restructuring package for bauMax group, a leading DIY retailer in Austria and the CEE region.

Read more…

AT: Schoenherr advises Austrian pharmaceutical wholesaler Jacoby...

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

on its merger with gm pharmaSc

Schoenherr, a leading full-service corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised Austrian pharmaceutical wholesaler Jacoby Pharmazeutika AG on its merger with its peer gm pharma gmbh. The merger received regulatory approval on 20 December 2012. Following the completion of the deal, which is expected during the second quarter of 2013, Jacoby's owners will hold 70 per cent of the newly-combined entity Jacoby GM Pharma GmbH, with gm pharma's shareholders holding the remainder.

Read more…

AT/Central Europe: Schoenherr maintains its top position in the Austrian M&A market in 2012

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading full-service corporate law firm in Central Europe, maintained its top position in the Austrian M&A market in 2012, according to the league tables for legal advisors* published by the Financial Times Group's business intelligence subsidiary mergermarket. According to mergermarket's deals database, Schoenherr's M&A practice ranked No 1 in terms of the number of qualifying Austrian M&A transactions it advised on in 2012. Having ranked first on this basis in mergermarket's 2011 league table for Austria, Schoenherr thus continued to lead its legal advisory peers, 48 of which managed to earn a ranking in the 2012 table.

Read more…

AT: Schoenherr advises France Telecom in sale of Orange Austria to Hutchison

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading full-service corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised France Telecom-Orange as overall transaction counsel in the telecom company’s recently completed sale of its shareholding in Orange Austria to a unit of Hutchison Whampoa.

Read more…

PL: Schoenherr advises Pearson on acquisition of iOKI companies

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading full-service corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised Pearson plc, one of the world's premier media and education companies, on its acquisition of all the rights and obligations of limited partners in iOKI Sp. k., a Poland-based supplier of e-learning solutions. Pearson also acquired 100% shares of iOKI sp. z o.o., the general partner of iOKI Sp. k. Following its signing in October, the deal closed on 17 December 2012.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Daimler on the reorganization of its joint-venture with Pappas

January 2013. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Central European law firm Schoenherr advised Daimler AG on the reorganization of its joint-venture with the Austrian Pappas family. Daimler will acquire Pappas' share in Mercedes-Benz Österreich Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH (the general importer of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Fuso cars) and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Austria GmbH, the Aus-trian financial services provider. Further, Daimler and Pappas will restructure the Austrian spare parts wholesale business from 1 January 2014; Daimler will provide spare parts from its logistics center in Nuremberg, Germany. Completion of the transaction is subject to merger control clearances. The purchase price is confidential.

Read more…

"Schoenherr advises Hareon Solar on the development of

December 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

... photovoltaic parks in Romania"

Schoenherr, a leading full service law firm in Central Europe, advised the Chinese group Hareon Solar on its investment in photovoltaic parks in Romania. The project is a joint venture between Hareon Solar and ESPE Srl, a leading Italian developer of green energy systems. The cooperation covers an initial pipeline of up to seven ground-mounted photovoltaic parks in Romania with a total capacity of 20 MWp. The parks will be sold to institutional investors as soon as they become operational in early 2013. 

Read more…

Schoenherr advises NOVOMATIC AG in connection with

November 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading full service corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised NOVOMATIC AG, one of the world's largest producers and operators of gaming technologies, in connection with its investment in TAP dayli Vertriebs GmbH. TAP dayli (the former Austrian subsidiary of the discount retailer Schlecker) currently operates approximately 1,400 branches in 5 countries.

Read more…

Schoenherr set to fully integrate Turkish law firm Türkoğlu & Celepçi

October 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, is set to fully integrate Turkey's CTK Türkoğlu & Celepçi, with whom Schoenherr has worked closely since 2007 and has had a formal cooperation since autumn 2010. At a shareholders meeting at the end of Septem-ber, Schoenherr's partners decided unanimously to merge with Türkoğlu & Celepci, with the merger becoming effective as of 1 February 2013, the start of the Vienna-based law firm's business year.

Read more…

Austria/UK: Schoenherr advises C-QUADRAT in acquisition of UK fund management group BCM

October 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised C-QUADRAT Investment AG (C-QUADRAT), which is listed on the Vienna and Frankfurt stock exchanges, in connection with the acquisition of the UK fund management group BCM & Partners for approximately EUR 13.4 million in cash and treasury shares. Closing of the transaction is inter alia subject to the approval by the UK Financial Services Authority.

Read more…

Austria: Schoenherr advises OEVAG on the successful sale of the container leasing business

October 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Republic of Austria agreed to invest and become a shareholder in Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (ÖVAG) in spring 2012. In this context, a number of measures and steps were agreed to further improve and strengthen the capital position and capital ratios of ÖVAG. In addition to increasing the focus on Austria, it was agreed to reduce the assets of the bank. ÖVAG continues to execute vigorously on this strategy and has now taken another significant step by completing the sale of its container-leasing unit which had been agreed previously on 17 July 2012. The sale of assets owned by Investkredit in Frankfurt to DZ-BANK in the amount of EUR 400 million has also been completed.

Read more…

Austria/Central and Eastern Europe Schoenherr advises initial purchasers on...

October 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Continental Group's USD 950 million bond issue 

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, represented the bookrunners and initial purchasers led by BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Agricole CIB, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and RBS on the Austrian, Hungarian, Romanian and Slovak law aspects of a USD 950 million high yield bond issued by Continental Rubber of America, Corp., USA.

Read more…

Austria: Schoenherr scoops five legal awards from Austria’s Die Presse

October 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr further strengthened its standing as the leading corporate law firm in Austria by winning five "Advocatus" legal awards from the distinguished newspaper Die Presse.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises C-QUADRAT in acquisition of UK fund management group BCM

September 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised C-QUADRAT Investment AG (C-QUADRAT), which is listed on the Vienna and Frankfurt stock exchanges, in connection with the acquisition of the UK fund management group BCM & Partners for approximately EUR 13.4 million in cash and treasury shares. Closing of the transaction is inter alia subject to the approval by the UK Financial Services Authority.

Read more…

Schoenherr scoops five legal awards from Austria's Die Presse

September 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr further strengthened its standing as the leading corporate law firm in Austria by winning five "Advocatus" legal awards from the distinguished newspaper Die Presse.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises ÖVAG on the successful sale of the container leasing business

September 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Republic of Austria agreed to invest and become a shareholder in Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (ÖVAG) in spring 2012. In this context, a number of measures and steps were agreed to further improve and strengthen the capital position and capital ratios of ÖVAG. In addition to increasing the focus on Austria, it was agreed to reduce the assets of the bank. The reduction efforts shall focus predominantly on assets in the Real Estate and Corporate segments.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Valora Group on sale of Valora Services Austria to Germany's Trunk Group

August 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised Swiss Exchange-listed Valora on the sale of Valora Services Austria to Germany's Trunk Group, a well-established player in the press distribution market. Under the terms of the transaction, Trunk Service GmbH will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Valora Services Austria, which in 2011 generated some CHF 120 million in net revenues and an operating profit of CHF 3.4 million.

Read more…

Schoenherr advised EQT Partners on the EUR 220 Million acquisition of...

August 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Austria's UC4 Software Group from Carlyle

EQT VI has agreed to acquire UC4 Software Group ("UC4" or the "Company") from Carlyle Europe Technology Partners, UC4's founder Franz Beranek, and its management for an enterprise value of EUR 220 million.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises in EUR 300 million bond issue by Schaeffler Group

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, advised Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Bayrische Landesbank and Citigroup Global Markets in their role as the global lead managers and initial purchasers of the EUR 300 million high yield bond issued by Germany’s Schaeffler Group at the beginning of July.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises LITEXCO INVESTMENTS on the sale of Bucharest office building

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, advised the Spanish real estate investment company LITEXCO INVESTMENTS SLU on the sale of an office building in the city center of Bucharest to an investment fund. The value of the transaction exceeded EUR 4 million.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Siemens on sale of Siemens Pension Fund to Valida

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading corporate law firm in Central Europe, advised Siemens Aktienge-sellschaft Österreich on the sale of its pension fund Siemens Pensionskasse AG to Valida Holding AG.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises the founding shareholders of Glasscorp on its sale to Trakya Cam

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, has advised the founding shareholders of Romania’s Glasscorp SA on the firm’s sale to Turkish glassmaker Trakya Cam Sanayii AS, which is listed on the Istanbul stock exchange.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises HYPO NOE Group on its purchase from first facility

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised HYPO NOE Gruppe on its acquisition of Facility Management company's first facility corporation. NÖ HypoBeteiligungsholding GmbH, a 100% daughter company of HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank AG, came first with the best offer in a bidding procedure coordinated by KPMG Advisory.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises OMV Petrom in sale of Petrom LPG SA to Crimbo Gas International

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr advised OMV Petrom SA in the sale of a 99.99% share in Petrom LPG SA to Romania’s Crimbo Gas International SRL.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises UNIQA Versicherungen AG on EUR 500 million rights offering

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, a leading law firm in Central Europe, advised Vienna Stock Exchange-listed UNIQA Versicherungen AG (UNIQA) on its EUR 500 million rights offering, which launched 28 June 2012.

Read more…

New Vienna office for Schoenherr on the Ringstrasse

July 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr, one of the leading law firms in Central Europe, has found a new office location and will be moving from five separate premises to a single location at Schottenring 19.

Read more…

schoenherr advises Sun Chemical on acquisition of Benda-Lutz Werke GmbH

June 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr advised Sun Chemical in connection with the acquisition of the Ben-da-Lutz metallic effects business. Closing of the transaction is, inter alia, subject to merger control clearance and is expected to occur in the 3rd quarter of 2012.

Read more…

Hans Georg Laimer is the new Head of Emloyment Practice

June 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Hans Georg Laimer (37), who was appointed partner at Schoenherr At-torneys at Law at the beginning of 2012, is the new head of the firm’s employment law practice.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises PERFORM Group Plc on the EUR 120 million acquisition of...

June 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Sports data company RunningBall

Schoenherr advised London Stock Exchange listed digital sports specialists PERFORM Group plc in connection with the acquisition of the Austrian subsidiary of Swiss-based sports data company RunningBall AG for EUR 120 million in cash and shares. Transaction counsel was Wiggin LLP, London. The transaction was closed on June 1, 2012. 

Read more…

Schoenherr’s leading position in Austria and CEE once again confirmed by superb Chambers rankings

May 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr’s standing as a leading corporate law firm in Central Europe has been confirmed by rankings recently issued by Chambers & Partners, the distinguished British legal publisher. In its annual "Chambers Europe" legal directory, Chambers recognized 13 Schoenherr practice areas in Austria and CEE jurisdictions as belonging to the top tier ("Band 1") in their national markets.

Read more…

Austria: New Fees Regime for Public Procurement Review Proceedings

May 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Fees Regulation for proceedings before the Federal Public Procurement Office (Bundesvergabeamt ‒ BVA), in force since 13 April 2012, entailed a simplification of the fees regime.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises WAZ Media Group in the sale of its subsidiary Media Print Macedonia

May 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Central European law firm Schoenherr advised Germany’s WAZ Media Group in the sale of its subsidiary Media Print Macedonia to Orka Holding, a familyowned business conglomerate based in Macedonia.

Read more…

Denise Hamer joins the Schoenherr Banking & Finance Team as a Partner

May 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Denise R. Hamer has joined the Central European law firm Schoenherr as a partner in its Banking, Finance and Capital Markets practice group.

Read more…

Schoenherr acts as consortium leader in two projects addressing the implementation of the...

April 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive

The Central European law firm Schoenherr acted as Consortium Leader for a project assisting the Directorate General for Energy in its assessment of the Renewable Energy Directive’s implementation in the national legislation of all 27 EU member states. 

Read more…

Schoenherr advises AGRANA on the founding of a joint venture with Raiffeisen Ware Austria

April 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Central European law firm Schoenherr advised AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG (AGRANA), which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, in the merger of its fruit juice concentrate subsidiary AGRANA Juice Holding GmbH with Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH, a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG (RWA).

Read more…

Schoenherr Top 1 in Merger Market M&A League Table Rankings for Austrian M&A in 2011

March 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm schoenherr reached top position in the Austrian M&A market according to 2011 MergerMarket League tables* for Legal Advisors. Schönherr´s M&A practice is ranked No 1 in terms of number of qualifying deals for Austrian M&A for the year 2011 and has reached the top position among 74 listed legal advisors.

Read more…

Austria: Movement on the Austrian mobile communications market:

February 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Europa Partners and France Telecom sell Orange Austria to Hutchison ("Drei")

The recent sale of the Orange Austria group to Hutchison 3G Holdings Austria GmbH (Hutchison Austria), a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, Hongkong, has kept several leading law firms busy for weeks. 

Read more…

Schoenherr advises SECURITAS AB on the acquisition of Croatian security services provider PROTECT

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr advised the Stockholm SE listed SECURITAS AB, one of the world's largest security companies, on the acquisition of the 85% interest in the Croatian security services provider PROTECT d.o.o. Ri-jeka and the indirect acquisition of its subsidiary PROTECT EDUCA. The agree-ment includes an option of acquiring the remaining 15%. The enterprise value of the acquired 85% of the shares is estimated to be EUR 5.7 million.

Read more…

Schoenherr presents roadmap 12 – “The rules of the game”

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

illustrated by Serbian artist Igor Marsenić

Now in its sixth edition, the Central European law firm Schoenherr released its new road-map at the beginning of the year. 

Read more…

Schoenherr Partner Elected Bucharest Stock Exchange Board Member

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr Bucharest Partner Narcisa Oprea was elected board member of Bucharest Stock Exchange on 9.1.2012.

Narcisa, who heads the capital markets team of Schoenherr in Romania, ran as an independent. The board of BSE has been elected in the beginning of the new year and currently holds 9 members. 

Read more…

Schoenherr advises BEWAG on the sale of BKF Das Burgenland Fernsehen GmbH

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr has advised Austrian energy provider BEWAG on the sale of its shares in the Burgenland cable TV service provider BKF to schau media Wien GesmbH, which is part of the Vienna Bohmann publishing-group.

Read more…

Molodva: New Act on Personal Data Protection in Mol dova

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

On 8 July 2011 the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova passed Act No. 133/2011 on personal data protection in Moldova (Act No. 133). Act No. 133 will enter into force from 15 April 2012 and implements new norms on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data, registration procedures (notification) for processors of personal data, and rules on the cross-border transfer of personal data.

Read more…

Schoenherr advised SEKISUI Chemical Co., Ltd. on high level investment into Central & Eastern Europe

January 2012. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr advised Japanese SEKISUI Chemical Co., Ltd. in connection with the acquisition of a 75% share in the pipe-renewal business of the rabmer-Group, a family owned Austrian group of companies with its ultimate parent company, rabmer Holding GmbH, being based in Altenberg, Austria. The strong presence of rabmer in Central and Estern Europe will serve as door opener to SEKISUI who was looking to enter the market.

Read more…

Schoenherr publishes practice guide on non performing loans in Central and Eastern Europe

December 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Throughout the CEE/SEE region, the percentage of non-performing loans (NPLs) to total loan receivables has increased dramatically during the current economic cycle. With its guide on "Non performing loans in Central Europe – disposal / acquisition strategy" Central European law firm Schoenherr presents a practical guideline for those contemplating to sell NPLs as part of their strategy of active-ly managing distressed credits as well as for potential investors in this asset class.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Tele2 on acquisition of Silver Server

November 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The Central European law firm Schoenherr advised the listed Swedish telecommunications group Tele2 on its acquisition of the Austrian internet service provider Silver Server. Finalisation of the transaction is subject to merger control clearance. The purchase price is undisclosed.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Valora on acquisition of "press & more"

November 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr advised Swiss consumer goods group Valora on its acquisition of the majority of K. Schmelzer-J. Bettenhausen GmbH & Co KG.

Read more…

Further expansion of Österreichische Post AG into CEE

November 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Schoenherr has advised listed Österreichische Post AG in connection with the acquisition of a 26% stake in Romanian PostMaster s.r.l. (including an option to acquire the remain-ing 74% stake within two years).

Read more…

Schoenherr decides the Czech-American “Beer War“ for its client Anheuser-Busch

November 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

02.11.2011
The Central European law firm Schoenherr has achieved an important and final success for the American brewing company Anheuser-Busch, after 12 years of litigation with the Czech Budweiser Budvar National Corporation.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises VTB on Bulgartabac Privatisation

October 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised VTB Capital, the investment arm of VTB, Russia’s second largest bank, on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Bulgartabac Holding AD (Bulgartabac). The Bulgarian government officially launched the privatisation of Bulgartabac in May 2011 and the transaction was closed on 14 October 2011.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Atlas Copco MAI GmbH on sale of selfdrilling anchor business to Minova

October 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

17.10.2011 Central European Law Firm Schoenherr advised Atlas Copco MAI GmbH on selling its selfdrilling anchors business to Minova, a member of the Australian group Orica Limited. According to a company press release, the business involves rock bolts primarily used in civil engineering applications. The deal is in line with Atlas Copco’s strategy in the rock reinforcement area to focus on products for the mining industry.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Österreichische Volksbanken AG on the Sale of Volksbank International to Sberban

September 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Österreichische Volksbanken AG (ÖVAG) on the sale of Volksbank International AG (VBI) to Sberbank of Russia.

Read more…

M&A dealmaker Robert Bachner returns to Schoenherr as Partner

September 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

As from 1 February 2012, Robert Bachner (39) will strengthen the Central European firm Schoenherr as partner. The renowned M&A and infrastructure project expert thus returns to Schoenherr after a six-year break, where – except for a two-year foreign sojourn (including as a lawyer with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York and Frankfurt) – he worked from 1997 to 2005.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises M-real on divestiture of M-Real Hallein GmbH to Schweighofer Group

July 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

04.07.2011
Central European Law Firm Schoenherr advised M-real Group, Finland, on the sale of M-Real Hallein GmbH to Schweighofer Group.

Read more…

Schoenherr publishes primer on White Collar Crime in Central and Eastern Europe

June 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

As corporations become more international and grow in size, so does their liability risk as well as that of their managers. White Collar Crime – especially bribery, fraud and money laundering – and Compliance is steadily gaining in significance.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Bewag on the sale of Croatian B.net to Telekom Austria

June 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised the Austrian energy provider Bewag on the sale of the Croatian telecommunications provider B.net to Telekom Austria, which will take over the company through its Croatian subsidiary Vipnet.

Read more…

Austria: The Duties of a Supervisory Board Member towards his Former Company

May 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Stephan Frotz, Clemens Spitznagel

Is a supervisory board member justified in taking a decision which helps his current company at the expense of his former company?

Background
In spring 2010 a considerable former Austrian politician stepped down from his supervi-sory board seat at a big Austrian stock company (A-AG). A few days later, it became known that he had been elected chairman of the supervisory board of another Austrian stock company (B-AG). Due to the fact that both companies were strong competitors this “change over” caused harsh reactions from A-AG. The main apprehension was the poten-tial disclosure of confidential information he, as a former supervisory board member, had collected through his activities on the supervisory board. This led to lively public discus-sions about under which circumstances the acceptance of a supervisory board mandate might be inappropriate or even illegal.

Read more…

Poland: Schoenherr further strengthens Warsaw office

May 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

09.05.2011
Central European law firm Schoenherr has hired Pawel Hawla as local partner for its Warsaw office. At Schoenherr he will be part of the Warsaw corporate / M&A practice, where he will focus in particular on M&A and equity capital market transactions. Paweł joins Schoenherr from the local office of international law firm Salans at the beginning of May.

Read more…

Poland: Schoenherr strengthens Warsaw office

Central European law firm Schoenherr has hired Katarzyna Terlecka as partner for its Warsaw office. She will join the firm from the local offices of Allen & Overy on June 1st. At the same time, Florian Cvak, partner with Schoenherr focusing on Private Equity and M&A, will be appointed managing partner of the firm’s Warsaw office.

Read more…

11New feed-in tariff for renewable energy proj-ects in Bulgaria

April 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

On 31 March 2011 the Bulgarian State Regulatory Energy and Water Commission announced the new feed-in tariff for electricity generated from renewable energy sources for 2011.

Read more…

Schoenherr and FMI advise on the development of the Moldovan capital markets regulations

February 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Financial Markets International (FMI) and Schoenherr have been selected for the devel-opment of the Moldovan secondary normative framework under the draft law on capital markets.

Read more…

schoenherr advises EC on implementation of Renewable Energy Directive

February 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European firm Schoenherr has been appointed by the European Commis-sion Directorate General for Energy as leader of a consortium to advise the Commission on the project called "Best Renewable Energy Practices in EU 27".

Read more…

Director of the Competition Protection Office returns to schoenherr

February 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Jani Soršak has returned as partner to the Ljubljana office of Central European law firm Schoenherr after a period of more than three years at the helm of the Slovenian Competi-tion Protection Office (CPO). As CPO Director Soršak led Slovenia’s increased efforts to bring the country in line with EU antitrust enforcement practice.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Monier on BRAMAC acquisition

February 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Monier Group on the acquisition of the remaining shares in BRAMAC from joint-venture partner Wienerberger. Until now, both companies held a 50 percent stake in BRAMAC, a leading roof building material producer with a presence in 12 countries in Central Europe. Simultaneous to the acquisition of BRAMAC, Monier sold its minority stake in the Austrian roof tile manufacturer Tondach Gleinstätten to brick producer Wienerberger. Closing of the transactions is subject to clearance by the competent antitrust authorities.

Read more…

schoenherr advises brokers on Fondul Proprietatea listing

January 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Raiffeisen Capital & Investment SA, ING Bank Bucharest Branch, and BRD-Groupe Société Générale SA as brokers on the Bu-charest listing of Fondul Proprietatea, the Romania based investment company with a portfolio consisting of stakes in 83 companies. The first trading day on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) is planned for 25 January, 2011.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Silgan Holdings on Vogel & Noot acquisition

January 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised NASDAQ-listed Silgan Holdings Inc., USA, on the acquisition of the food can business of Austrian Vogel & Noot Holding AG. The acquisition includes 12 food can manufacturing facilities throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Read more…

schoenherr advises Advent International on sale of Takko to Apax

January 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Advent International, a leading global private equity firm, headquartered in Boston (USA), on the sale of Takko Holding GmbH to the British private equity investment group Apax Partners. With some 1,500 outlets in Germany and abroad, Takko is among the most successful fashion retailers in Europe.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises NXP Semiconductors NV on sale of Sound Solution business to Dover Corporation,USA

January 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised NXP Semiconductors N.V. on the sale of its Vienna-headquartered Sound Solutions business to Dover Corporation. Dover’s af-filiate Knowles Electronics will acquire NXP’s Sound Solutions business for EUR 652 mil-lion.

Read more…

schoenherr advises Silgan Holdings on Vogel and Noot acquisition

January 2011. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised NASDAQ-listed Silgan Holdings Inc., USA, on the acquisition of the food can business of Austrian Vogel & Noot Holding AG. The acquisition includes 12 food can manufacturing facilities throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Read more…

schoenherr advises WAZ medien on Bulgarian sale

December 2010. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised German media group WAZ Media Group on the sale of Bulgarian daily newspapers "Trud" and "24 Chasa" and weekly "168 Chasa" to BG Printmedia and a group of private investors. In addition to the titles, WAZ will also transfer its printing facility "Sofia" and the distribution company "Strela" to BG Printmedia.

Read more…

schoenherr advises Securitas on two acquisitions

December 2010. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Swedish security services company Securitas AB on two takeovers in Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Romania Se-curitas expanded its market share by the acquisition of Cobra Security from UTI Group, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina the company made a market entry by the purchase of the Alarm West Group.

Read more…

schoenherr advises Basic Element on 17% STRABAG stake repurchase

December 2010. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has advised Rasperia/Basic Element, Moscow, on the repurchase a 17 % stake in Austrian construction group STRABAG SE. Mid 2009, Rasperia´s 25% shareholding in the Vienna-listed building group was taken over by co-shareholders Raiffeisen Holding NÖ-Wien, UNIQA and the Haselsteiner family companies. As part of that transaction the company was granted a call option to buy back the 25% shareholding in STRABAG SE.

Read more…

schoenherr and freshfields advise on volkswagen / porsche holding salzburg acquisition

November 2010. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The family shareholders of Porsche Holding Salzburg have resolved to exercise the put option to sell to Volkswagen AG the operating business of Porsche Holding Salzburg. The put option to this effect was exercised yesterday. The transfer of the automobile trade company will take place at a fixed price of EUR 3.3 billion, probably during the first half of 2011 but no later than September 30, 2011.

Read more…

Schoenherr extends equity to central europe

November 2010. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has, for the first time, invited lawyers from outside its Vienna head-quarters into the firm’s equity. The five new partners - based in Belgrade, Bucharest and Prague - will make up more than a fifth of the partnership.

Read more…

Schoenherr promotes head of Romanian Capital Markets team to partner

October 2009. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has promoted Narcisa Oprea to partner in the firm’s Bucharest office. Narcisa, who recently received an award for leading capital markets lawyer in Romania from publishing group FinMedia, joined Schoenherr in May 2008 to head the Romanian Capital Markets team.

Read more…

Continued growth for Schoenherr's tax practice

September 2009. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

The tax practice of Central European law firm Schoenherr has continued its expansion during the summer. Herbert Buzanich has joined the team and Andreas Baumann, who joined Schoenherr in late 2007, was promoted to junior partner.

Read more…

Schoenherr promotes Ursula Rath to partner

August 2009. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr has promoted Ursula Rath to partner in its Banking & Finance / Capital Markets Practice Group. Ursula, who specialises in capital markets transactions, investment funds and financial services including regulatory aspects, has acted on some of the most visible and innovative transactions in the Austrian market.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Volkswagen on creation of Integrated Automotive Group with Porsche

August 2009. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Central European law firm Schoenherr is advising German car manufacturer Volkswagen on the Austrian and CEE aspects of the creation of an integrated automotive group with Porsche led by Volkswagen.

Read more…

Schoenherr gains eight new partners

January 2009. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

European law firm Schoenherr has increased its partnership by 8 lawyers, lifting the total number of firm-wide partners to 53. In the Vienna office Florian Cvak, Alexander Popp and Gudrun Stangl were promoted, while five partners were taken on board as part of the takeover of the former Gleiss Lutz offices in Prague and Warsaw.

Read more…

Schoenherr in decisive Central European push: office openings in Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia

December 2008. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

Vienna 01.12.2008 - European law firm Schoenherr is increasing its coverage of Central Europe by opening offices in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. The openings in these more established markets place Schoenherr, as a leading legal service company, into a unique position in the region: its network of offices in Central Europe is unmatched by any other law firm.

Read more…

Schoenherr advises Raiffeisen Centrobank on entry to Bucharest Stock Exchange

September 2008. Press Releases by Schönherr (view listing).

European law firm Schoenherr has advised Raiffeisen Centrobank AG on its admission as participant to the Bucharest Stock Exchange trading system, making the Austrian bank the second non-resident company to receive approval for remote trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange platform.

Read more…

Legal Developments by:
Schoenherr

  • Poland: Recent court judgments in Polish labour law

    On 1 March 2013, new regulations on the compensation due to employee on account of business travel entered into force, replacing two separate regulations which had applied so far to domestic and abroad business trips, respectively. They not only apply to employees of public sector entities, but also to those working for private sector entities, if those matters are not regulated in collective labour agreements or remuneration regulations.
    - Schönherr

Legal Developments in Austria

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Reselling Used Apps?

    In a recent decision, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held that the resale of used software generally cannot be excluded in licence terms. The judgment, which aimed at the resale of used business software, may also affect the app market. Read more...
  • Austria: New Law Makes Establishing a GmbH Easier and Cheaper

    On Friday, 22 March 2013, a draft new law (Gesellschaftsrechts-Änderungsgesetz 2013 - GesRÄG 2013) was revealed by Minister of Justice Beatrix Karl and Minister of Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner. The GesRÄG 2013, which is expected to come into force on 1 July 2013, aims at facilitating the establishment of an Austrian limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - GmbH). This article provides a summary of the draft. 
  • Mergers & Acquisitions 2013. Chapter 6: Austria.

    This guide provides corporate counsel and international practitioners with a comprehensive worldwide legal analysis of the laws and regulations of mergers and acquisitions. This article appeared in the 2013 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Mergers & Acquisitions; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London. www.iclg.co.uk .
  • EU: Genuine Use of Community Trademarks Changes due to recent CJEU decision C-149/11

    EU-wide protected Community Trademarks (as well as national trademarks) have to be used for the claimed goods and services in the course of trade within the EU in order to maintain their protection and enforceability. A (partial) lack of use, however, does not automatically result in a (partial) lapse of the trademark registration. On the other hand, after an initial “grace period” of 5 years beginning with the registration of the trademark, genuine use of the trademark would have to be proven when enforcing such trademark against third parties; furthermore, anybody could request revocation of such trademark in so far as it had not been genuinely used for goods and services covered by the registration (Art 15, 51(1)(a) CTMR).
  • Real Estate 2013. Chapter 4: Austria

    This guide provides the international practitioner and in-house counsel with a comprehensive worldwide legal analysis of the laws and regulations of real estate. This article appeared in the 2013 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Real Estate; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London. www.iclg.co.uk .
  • Real Estate 2013. The End of Extend and Pretend: Non-Performing Loans in CEE/SEE

    This guide provides the international practitioner and in-house counsel with a comprehensive worldwide legal analysis of the laws and regulations of real estate. This article appeared in the 2013 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Real Estate; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London. www.iclg.co.uk . 
  • Client Alert: Amendments to Austrian Competition Law

    In December 2012, the Austrian Parliament adopted changes to the Austrian Cartel Act as well as the Austrian Competition Act that will enter into force as of 1 March 2013 (Austrian Cartel and Competition Law Amendment Act; KaWeRÄG 2012). Although the Amendment does not lead to a major overhaul of the current system, several changes are noteworthy: 
  • EU: European Commission releases Action Plan on European Company Law and Corporate Governance

    The Action Plan is titled "European company law and corporate governance – a modern legal framework for more engaged shareholders and sustainable companies" and was made public on 12 December 2012. Its key elements are presented in the following summary.
  • Austria: New laws on Hiring-Out of Labour

    Based on directive 2008/104/EC, Austria's hiring-out of labour laws have been amended (BGBl 98/2012). According to the directive, the implementation into national law should already have taken place by 5 December 2011. After a first failed attempt in February 2012 to implement the directive effective 1 July 2012, the implementation has now taken place belatedly, effective 1 January 2013. Furthermore, the new laws on the hiring-out of labour not only implemented the directive, but also stipulated further regulations for temporary work. This text provides an overview of the most important amendments in the new laws.
  • CEE: The Corruption Perception Index 2012

    Transparency International ("TI") released its Corruption Perception Index 2012 ("CPI 2012") earlier today. The Corruption Perception Index ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. The index, which reflects the views of observers from around the world, offers a yearly snapshot of the problem of corruption by ranking countries from all over the globe. The index covers issues such as free access to information, bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, and the enforcement of anti-corruption laws. The CPI 2012which is available at: http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ ranks 176 countries.