{"id":47422,"date":"2025-02-24T10:33:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T10:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/?post_type=press_releases&#038;p=47422"},"modified":"2025-02-24T10:34:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T10:34:30","slug":"gecic-law-steers-telekom-srbija-on-a-historic-deal-in-the-western-balkans","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/press-releases\/gecic-law-steers-telekom-srbija-on-a-historic-deal-in-the-western-balkans\/","title":{"rendered":"Geci\u0107 Law Steers Telekom Srbija on a Historic Deal in the Western Balkans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Geci\u0107 Law is proud to announce that it served as lead legal advisor to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mts.rs\/About-Telekom\/Media-center\/a124026-Telekom-Srbija-announcement.html\"><strong>Telekom Srbija Group<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in a landmark telecommunications transaction in the Western Balkans.\u202f<!--more--> Telekom Srbija Group has agreed to acquire\u00a0<strong>NetTV Plus, DTH\u00a0<\/strong>in Serbia\/North Macedonia and Western Balkans<strong>\u00a0Sport Klub\u00a0<\/strong>rights licenses from<strong>\u00a0United Group<\/strong>\u200b.\u202f The acquisition is part of a broader deal with a combined enterprise value of\u00a0<strong>\u20ac1.5 billion<\/strong>\u200b, representing one of the largest telecom sector transactions in the region\u2019s history.\u202f As part of the broader transaction, e&amp; PPF Telecom\u2014majority-owned by e&amp; and Czech Group PPF\u2014will acquire SBB and integrate it with Yettel. This deal significantly bolsters Telekom Srbija\u2019s market position and expands its digital content offerings for consumers across the Western Balkans and Southeast European diaspora\u200b.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Deal Highlights:\u202f<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Transaction Value:<\/strong>\u00a0Combined enterprise value of\u00a0<strong>\u20ac1.5 billion<\/strong>\u00a0for the two concurrent transactions, marking a historic high for the region\u2019s telecom sector\u200b.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Assets Acquired:<\/strong>\u00a0Telekom Srbija will acquire Eon TV International Ltd (the holding company for the NetTV Plus platform), its direct-to-home businesses in Serbia and North Macedonia (DTH), and certain Sport Klub rights in the Western Balkans. This acquisition will enhance Telekom Srbija\u2019s digital television services and premium content portfolio.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Geci\u0107 Law\u2019s Role:<\/strong>\u00a0Geci\u0107 Law acted as lead counsel to Telekom Srbija, providing comprehensive legal support (corporate\/M&amp;A, regulatory, finance and competition) throughout the process. The firm coordinated closely with Clifford Chance as international counsel to navigate the deal\u2019s cross-border complexities and high-value negotiations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Regulatory Approvals:<\/strong>\u00a0The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first half of 2025\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Geci\u0107 Law\u2019s team continues to advise Telekom Srbija through the closing process, including guidance on competition clearance and other closing conditions.<\/p>\n<p>This milestone deal underscores the increasing prominence of the Western Balkans in large-scale telecom and media investments.\u202f Geci\u0107 Law\u2019s multi-disciplinary team leveraged deep regional expertise to ensure a smooth execution of the transaction from start to finish.\u202f The firm\u2019s mandate covered all facets of the deal \u2013 from due diligence and structuring to addressing sector-specific regulations and antitrust requirements \u2013 exemplifying its capability to handle complex cross-border transactions.\u202f Throughout the process, the firm collaborated closely with Clifford Chance, aligning local strategy with international best practices to structure the acquisition for a successful closing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/gecic-bogdan\/\">Bogdan Geci\u0107<\/a><strong>,<\/strong>\u00a0Founding Partner of Geci\u0107 Law, remarked: \u201cWe are thrilled to have supported Telekom Srbija Group in achieving this milestone.\u202f This landmark acquisition is a testament to the Western Balkans\u2019 potential and Telekom Srbija\u2019s visionary approach to growth.\u202f We are proud to be part of an endeavor that not only elevates Telekom Srbija\u2019s strategic position but also signals a new era for the region\u2019s telecommunications landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/colic-ognjen\/\">Ognjen Coli\u0107<\/a><strong>,<\/strong>\u00a0Partner and Head of Corporate\/M&amp;A at Geci\u0107 Law, added: \u201cThis complex deal required strict focus and precision.\u202f Our team navigated a dynamic regulatory and contractual landscape and coordinated multiple workstreams to ensure an efficient process.\u202f The successful outcome underscores Geci\u0107 Law\u2019s commitment to delivering pragmatic, effective legal solutions in high-value corporate transactions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Telekom Srbija Group\u2019s lead legal advisor, Geci\u0107 Law\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/practices\/corporatema\/\">Corporate\/M&amp;A<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/practices\/administrative-regulatory\/\">Administrative &amp; Regulatory<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/practices\/competition-law-state-aid\/\">Competition Law<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/practices\/european-law-trade-enlargement\/\">EU Law and<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/practices\/banking-finance\/\">Banking &amp; Finance<\/a>\u00a0practices played a pivotal role in facilitating the smooth execution of this complex cross-border transaction.<\/p>\n<p>The Geci\u0107 Law team, led by partners\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/gecic-bogdan\/\">Bogdan Geci\u0107<\/a>,\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/colic-ognjen\/\">Ognjen Coli\u0107<\/a>, and\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/miodrag-jevtic\/\">Miodrag Jevti\u0107<\/a>; counsel\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/milos-petakovic1\/\">Milo\u0161 Petakovi\u0107<\/a>; senior associates\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/vuk-lekovic\/\">Vuk Lekovi\u0107<\/a>\u202fand\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/zarko-popovic1\/\">\u017darko Popovi\u0107<\/a>, and associates\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/dusan-jablan1\/\">Du\u0161an Jablan<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/vasilije-boskovic1\/\">Vasilije Bo\u0161kovi\u0107<\/a>,\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/nikola-ivkovic1\/\">Nikola Ivkovi\u0107,<\/a>\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geciclaw.com\/marko-jovic\/\">Marko Jovi\u0107<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/aleksa-stojanovi%C4%87-9a69771bb\">Aleksa Stojanovi\u0107<\/a>\u00a0worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this deal.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Geci\u0107 Law, Telekom Srbija Group\u2019s legal advisors were Clifford Chance (International Counsel), Fellner Wratzfeld &amp; Partner (Austria), Kaimakliotis &amp; Co (Cyprus), Lalive (Switzerland), and Zdol\u0161ek (Slovenia).\u202f Sullivan &amp; Cromwell LLP was the legal adviser of e&amp; PPF Telecom, and Kirkland &amp; Ellis LLP for United Group.<\/p>\n<p>As Telekom Srbija integrates these new assets, Geci\u0107 Law stands ready to support the client through the closing and beyond.\u202f The firm\u2019s involvement in this historic transaction reaffirms its position as a market leader, building on a series of high-profile deals that continue to drive growth and innovation across the Western Balkans and beyond.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-47422","press_releases","type-press_releases","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/47422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press_releases"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}