Premium Legal Services in the Past, Present and Future
Major Projects
125 Years of Excellence
Prica & Partners works on a variety of projects, from airports, luxury brands, telecommunications, financial services and fast-moving consumer goods to high-profile mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, concessions, privatisations, disputes, real estate deals, competition matters, banking and finance, employment and intellectual property, our firm offers a full spectrum of legal services specifically customised to the particular needs of our clients.
Select M&A / Privatisation Experience
Belgrade Airport Concession
The firm represented an international consortium of investors in a public tender for a 25-year concession for the financing and development through construction and reconstruction, maintenance and management of infrastructure of the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The concession, valued at approximately EUR 500 million, was the largest legal deal in Serbia in 2017 and is of one of the most strategically important projects in the country.
Privatisation of Telekom Srbija
The firm acted as legal advisors to the Government of the Republic of Serbia regarding the potential privatisation of a majority shareholding in the incumbent telecom company Telekom Srbija. This deal, which was the largest anticipated privatisation project in Serbia to date, attracted significant interest from strategic and financial investors. Our legal team provided full legal support to the government on this landmark transaction. Services included drafting amendments to the Law on Privatisation, drafting a decree regulating the terms and conditions of the tender sale, a full legal due diligence investigation of the target, drafting the transaction documents and providing support during negotiations.
Privatisation of Komercijalna banka
The firm acted as legal advisors to the Government of the Republic of Serbia regarding the privatization process of Komercijalna banka a.d. Beograd, the country’s second largest bank. This specific deal was complex and unique because beside the 41.7% of shares which were in the ownership of the state, the state also acquired additional (approx. 40%) by way of the put option exercised by IFIs (EBRD, IFC and others). This deal required the expertise not only for M&A transactions, but also expertise for financial and stock exchange transactions, and this is the rare, if not the exceptional case that the services of legal consultation were provided only by a domestic legal counsel (Prica & Partners and AP Legal), without the engagement of a foreign legal counsel.
Acquisition of NIS – Petroleum Industry of Serbia
The firm represented GazpromNeft on its EUR 400 million acquisition of a 51% stake in the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), based on an IG agreement between Russia and Serbia. This was the largest acquisition project in the Serbian energy sector to date. Services included a legal due diligence investigation covering more than 600 immovable properties, including drafting the SPA and a large number of underlying transaction documents, assistance at closing and numerous post-closing activities.
Acquisition of Mobtel
The firm advised M-Tel, a consortium of Austrian private investors, on the acquisition of the largest mobile telecommunications company in Serbia, Mobtel, and its subsequent auction sale to the best bidder, Telenor Group of Norway for EUR 1.5 billion.
Privatisation of Several Leading Serbian Banks
The firm represented the Government of the Republic of Serbia in several large privatisations of leading banks in Serbia, including Vojvodjanska banka, Novosadska banka and Komercijalna banka.
Gucci Acquisition of Serbian Leather Factory
The firm advised the renowned luxury brand Gucci, a member of the Kering Group, on its entrance into the Serbian market through the acquisition of a leading producer of leather products. The transaction took place through a complex court sale and included the resolution of existing real estate and environmental protection issues. Services also included obtaining all relevant licensing and active involvement in the negotiations with the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), including the process of procuring substantial investment incentives from SIEPA.
Select Restructuring / Insolvency Experience
Bankruptcy and Restructuring of Concern Farmakom MB
The firm is representing the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in the unprecedented bankruptcy and restructuring case of Concern Farmakom MB, one of the largest agriculture, metal processing and mining businesses in Serbia, and six of its wholly owned subsidiaries, which represent some of the largest and most important companies in the Serbian market in their respective areas of business.
The IFC has initiated legal proceedings before the Serbian Courts for the express purpose of recovering over EUR 80 million in unpaid debt. This is a landmark case, as it is the first time that simultaneous restructuring and insolvency proceedings have been commenced against so many companies of significant importance to the Serbian economy. This case is unique in its complexity because the legal framework governing the insolvency of related companies that are jointly and severally liable for debt is inadequate, making the case particularly challenging and creating a substantial amount of public attention.
Restructuring of Mercator
The firm represented Mercator, a leading regional retail chain owned by Agrokor Group, which is the largest privately-owned company in Croatia, regarding debt restructuring of their Serbian and Montenegrin subsidiaries within a wider group debt restructuring. This was one of the largest restructurings to have taken place in the region to date.
Out-of-court Restructuring of Victoria Group
The firm advised the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) regarding a EUR 50 million loan and out-of-court restructuring of Victoria Group and its subsidiaries.
Other Select Experience
Mytilineos Holdings SA v. The State Union of Serbia & Montenegro and Republic of Serbia – UNCITRAL Arbitration
The firm advised Mytilineos Holdings S.A. on claims arising out of laws and administrative measures enacted by the Government that allegedly destroyed claimant’s investment in a mineral extraction and metallurgy business in the Serbian city of Bor, including the allegedly forced bankruptcy by the respondent of a State-owned bank that had guaranteed the claimant’s investment.
Merger Clearance and Antitrust Matters
The firm regularly represents clients on a broad range of matters before the Serbian Commission for the Protection of Competition. We have worked for clients on the preparation and procurement of relevant approvals, such as merger clearances and exemptions regarding restrictive agreements. Notable transactions include global concentrations between Nokia and Siemens, Holcim and Lafarge, Ferrero International and Nestlé, Bristol Myers and HRA Pharma.