Austria

CERHA HEMPEL has advised the Hotusa Group, an international hotel group, on its successful acquisition of the historic Grand Hotel Wien as part of a structured international liquidation process following the insolvency of Grand Hotel GmbH. By closing this transaction, the Hotusa Group has secured one of Austria's best-known luxury hotels, overcoming competition from a large number of national and international interested parties. The Grand Hotel Wien, one of the most renowned hotels on Vienna's Ringstrasse, looks back on a history spanning more than 150 years and is considered one of Vienna's most prestigious luxury hotels. After conducting a multi-stage bidding process overseen by the insolvency administrator, the Hotusa Group ultimately prevailed as the highest bidder against a large number of national and international competitors. CERHA HEMPEL advised the Hotusa Group throughout the entire acquisition process, in particular with regard to legal due diligence, strategic structuring, the preparation and revision of bids, and all negotiations during the bidding process. CERHA HEMPEL also advised on all matters relating to the integration of the Grand Hotel Wien into the Hotusa Group. The transaction value was just under EUR 100 million. Hotusa: Headquartered in Barcelona, the Hotusa Group is one of Europe's largest tourism holdings. The company operates approximately 300 hotels in 23 countries under the brands Eurostars Hotels, Áurea Hotels, Dorma Hotels, Exe Hotels, Ikonik Hotels, Crisol Hotels, and Tandem Suites. CERHA HEMPEL and the project team: The team at CERHA HEMPEL was led by Dr. Johannes Aehrenthal, LL.M. (Partner, Corporate & Commercial) and Mag. Wolfgang Schreiner (Counsel, Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate), and also included Dr. Benjamin Twardosz, LL.M. (Partner, Tax), Mag. Thomas Stedronsky (Associate, Corporate & Commercial), and Mag. Jasmin Scharf (Associate, Corporate & Commercial).

E+H acted as lead counsel in the implementation of a joint venture to establish a multimedia platform delivering German-language business and financial news across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with headquarters in Vienna, Austria. CNBC, the global market leader in business and financial news, is granting the joint venture company, C-DACH Business News Holding GmbH, an exclusive 10-year license to establish the multimedia platform 'CNBC DACH'. The joint venture partners include Austrian entrepreneur, investor, and founder Alexander Schütz, the renowned entrepreneur and investor Benjamin Lakatos, in particular Executive Chairman and majority shareholder of MET Group, and media entrepreneur Rusmir Nefic. The launch of 'CNBC DACH' is subject to customary regulatory approvals from the competent competition authorities. 'CNBC DACH' will combine international market coverage with regional reporting, with a particular focus on key actors in the business and financial markets in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The platform will operate on a 24/7 basis and serve as an integrated, cross-platform business news provider delivering high-quality, fact-based business and financial content across television, digital channels, social media, live events, and print formats – including a dedicated TV channel with localized feeds and original reporting tailored specifically to the DACH region. The launch is scheduled for 2027. "Especially in a time of rapid change in news reporting and information dissemination, we are particularly pleased to provide legal guidance for such a significant project in the German-language media market and contribute to its successful implementation," said Johannes Feilmair, Partner at E+H and lead counsel for the transaction. E+H Team (legal advisor to Deneb Algedi Invest AG, the family office of Benjamin Lakatos) Lead: Johannes Feilmair (Partner, Corporate + M&A) Further: Clemens Katzenbeisser (Associate, Corporate + M&A), Jochen Anweiler (Partner, Antitrust), Jana Eichmeyer (Partner, Employment Law), Dominik Juster (Partner, Corporate + M&A), Georg Knafl (Partner, Public Law), William Redl (Partner, Antitrust), Bernhard Walter (Attorney-at-law, Corporate + M&A), Theresa Weiss-Dorer (Attorney-at-law, Employment Law), Hannah Kercz (Attorney-at-law, IP Law), Sonia Havlikova (Associate, Public Law), Julia König (Associate, Antitrust), Alexandra Pichler (Associate, Employment Law), Paul Rois (Associate, Antitrust), Gabriel Straßer (Associate, Corporate + M&A), Adrian Walser (Associate, Employment Law) _______ E+H is an international commercial law firm with offices in Vienna, Graz and Brussels that takes legal advice to the next level. The firm regularly receives awards and top spots in international rankings and directories, such as Chambers & Partners Global & Europe, Legal 500, JUVE, and Mergermarket. www.eh.at/en

E+H is delighted to welcome Michael Holzmannhofer to the firm as a lawyer and permanent substitute. He will strengthen the Corporate + M&A and Real Estate practice groups with his extensive experience in complex international M&A transactions and real estate projects, with a particular focus on retail real estate, hotel real estate, and office buildings. Michael Holzmannhofer developed a significant background at other prestigious international commercial law firms and most recently advised on very prominent national transactions in the distressed environment. He passed the bar exam with distinction and studied law at the University of Vienna. He now also lectures there on civil and real estate law. Michael Holzmannhofer says of his new position: "I am very pleased to now be part of E+H as an independent attorney and to further expand my expertise. I am particularly excited to work closely with a highly qualified team that has already distinguished itself by providing comprehensive support for major national and international projects."   Dr. Alric A. Ofenheimer, Managing Partner at E+H, adds: "With Michael Holzmannhofer, we are gaining a highly competent and committed lawyer who fits perfectly into our team, both professionally and personally. We look forward to working together and to our joint projects." ________________________________________________________________________________   E+H is an international commercial law firm with offices in Vienna, Graz, and Brussels that takes legal advice to the next level. The firm regularly receives awards and top spots in international rankings and directories, such as Chambers & Partners Global & Europe, Legal 500, JUVE, and Mergermarket. www.eh.at       Questions & Contact Dr. Alric A. Ofenheimer Managing Partner E+H Rechtsanwälte GmbH +43 676 8364 246 | [email protected]

Together with an international Norton Rose Fulbright team, DORDA advised Evergreen Hill Enterprise, Pte. Ltd. on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in TANN Group from Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG. The agreed enterprise value amounts to EUR 360 million. The DORDA team in this successful, cross-border transaction was led by Christian Ritschka (Partner, M&A) with main support from Ulrich Weinstich (Principal Associate, M&A). TANN Group prints on and finishes externally sourced fine paper to produce tipping paper. As the business is unrelated to cartonboard and consumer packaging, MM has decided to sell it. TANN Group generates annual sales of approximately EUR 220 million. TANN comprises 7 production sites in Austria, China, the Philippines, Turkey, Canada and Germany and a global workforce of around 730 employees. Based in Singapore,Evergreen Hill Enterprise, Pte. Ltd. is part of an Indonesian-based privately held group of diversified companies serving a wide variety of industries, such as banking, tobacco, consumer electronics, telecommunications, fast moving consumer goods, e-commerce, plantation, hotels & real estate, and many others. The transaction, which is subject to usual completion conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2025. Author: Christian Ritschka, Ulrich Weinstich Area: M&A