Category: Poland

DLA Piper has advised international software-as-a-service provider PerfectGym Solutions on its sale to Hamburg-based gym and health facility software specialist Sport Alliance, backed by PSG Equity.

PerfectGym Solutions is a SaaS provider based in Poland specializing in management solutions for fitness and leisure businesses, trusted by over 130 fitness chains across more than 55 countries.

“With the acquisition of Perfect Gym, the Sport Alliance strengthens its group and international capabilities and further enhances its ability to bring digital innovation to fitness and leisure facilities globally,” DLA Piper reported.

The DLA Piper team was led by Partner Rafal Kluziak and included Warsaw-based Senior Associate Michal Banasiak, Associate Jakub Niemiec, and Junior Associate Zofia Waszczykowska, with further lawyers in the UK, Germany, and Australia.

On May 20, 2024, JDP announced that Sanok Rubber Company’s acquisition of BSP Bracket System Polska (reported on by CEE Legal Matters on May 17, 2023) has now closed.

The Sanok Rubber Company focuses on the production of rubber products, rubber-metal products, and combinations of rubber with other plastics. 

BSP Bracket System Polska renders a range of services related to ventilated facades and clamping technology.

According to JDP, “by making BSP Bracket System Polska part of the group, Sanok Rubber Company is pursuing a strategy of transformation towards the supply of system solutions and achieving a higher level of product diversification.”

As previously reported, JDP Drapala & Partners has advised the Sanok Rubber Company on its acquisition of ventilated facade and fixing technology service provider BSP Bracket System Polska.

The JDP team included Partners Marcin Chomiuk, Michal Jagielski, Anna Matusiak-Wekiera, Joanna Ostojska-Kolodziej, and Wojciech Merkwa, Counsel Marcin Lewinski, Senior Associates Magdalena Bartnik and Ewa Mondziel, and Associates Martyna Kwiatek, Tomasz Glozowski, Katarzyna Jakubowska-Kaleta, and Dominik Grzegorzewski.

Linklaters has advised Stena Real Estate AB on the EUR 86 million acquisition of the Studio B office building in Warsaw from Skanska. Allen & Overy Shearman Sterling advised the seller.

Stena Real Estate AB is an international property company and part of the privately owned Swedish Stena Group.

According to Linklaters, Studio B is part of an office complex designed by Danish Arrow Architects and Polish Grupa 5 Architekci. It offers 17,600 square meters of sustainable and innovative space.

The Linklaters team included Partner Artur Kulawski, Counsel Adriana Andrzejewska, Managing Associate Michal Nocon, Senior Associates Jan Jurga and Daria Wojciechowska, Associates Bartosz Boenigk and Katarzyna Grodzka, and Junior Associate Aleksandra Stanulewicz.

The A&O Shearman team included Partner Michal Matera, Counsel Piotr Przybylski, and Associates Katarzyna Fus-Starzec and Julia Pytko.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised PKO Bank Polski on its financing for the construction of a 40-megawatt PV portfolio including 43 projects managed by SUNfarming. Roedl & Partners, working with Bird & Bird’s German office, reportedly advised SUNfarming.

PKO Bank Polski is a universal bank in Poland and a joint-stock company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2004.

SUNfarming Polska is a company within the German SUNfarming Group. Established in 2004, it has evolved to specialize in investment management and project development.

The Norton Rose team included Partner Tomasz Rogalski, Senior Associates Daniel Popek and Cezary Zawislak, Lawyers Wiktoria Jadczak, Natalia Rybak, Bartosz Odziemkowski, and Antoni Krzyzanowski, and Associates Mateusz Czuba, Karolina Majcher, and Jakub Wiatrzyk, with further team members in Hamburg and London.

CMS has advised R.Power Renewables on the up to PLN 190 million financing by Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski for the construction of a photovoltaic portfolio with a total capacity of about 59 megawatts. Dentons advised the bank.

R.Power is an independent solar power producer in Poland, expanding its operations into Romania, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Germany.  

PKO Bank Polski is one of the largest Polish banks and a joint stock company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2004.

The CMS team included Partner Jakub Wieczorek, Senior Associate Konrad Leszko, and Associate Sebastian Lys.

The Dentons team included Warsaw-based Partners Tomasz Zwolinski and Christian Schnell and Senior Associates Mateusz Ciechomski and Jerzy Oppeln-Bronikowski as well as further team members in Amsterdam.

Greenberg Traurig has advised the Cromwell Property Group on its EUR 285 million sale of a real estate portfolio consisting of six retail centers located in Warsaw, Szczecin, Wroclaw, Lodz, Torun, and Bydgoszcz to Star Capital Finance. Dentons advised Star Capital Finance.

The Cromwell Property Group is a real estate investor and fund manager.

According to Greenberg Traurig, the portfolio totals more than 219,000 square meters with occupancy above 95% and anchor tenants including Auchan, Bi1, LPP Group, Inditex Group, CCC Group, Rossmann, RTV EURO AGD, and Cinema City. “The Cromwell Property Group will continue to act as asset manager of the shopping centers on behalf of Star Capital Finance.”

The Greenberg Traurig team included Partner Maciej Jodkowski, Local Partners Malgorzata Kercz and Justyna Szwech, Counsel Karol Lewandowski, Associate Paulina Horodenska-Wieczorek, and Junior Associate Hanna Zaboklicka.

The Dentons team included Warsaw-based Partner Piotr Szafarz, Managing Counsel Jaroslaw Stapel, Counsel Jakub Zienkiewicz, Senior Associate Joanna Poplawska, and Associates Agnieszka Jaworska, Wojciech Grochola, and Kamil Batorm as well as Prague-based Partner Jiri Strzinek and Associate Jan Sedlak.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has advised Meko on its acquisition of Elit Polska from Rhiag – Inter Auto Parts Italia, a member of the LKQ Corporation group. Soltysinski Kawecki & Szlezak reportedly advised Inter Auto Parts Italia.

The transaction remains contingent on regulatory approval.

Meko is a Northern European distributor of automotive spare parts, operating in eight markets having brands such as FTZ, Inter-Team, Koivunen, MECA, Mekonomen, and Sorensen og Balchen.

Elit Polska is a distributor of automotive parts, maintenance supplies, and workshop equipment on the Polish market. The company has two warehouses and 49 branches throughout the country.

According to Rymarz Zdort Maruta, “as a result of the transaction, Meko will develop its presence in Poland and become the third largest player in the Polish automotive parts distribution market. The acquisition of control over Elit Polska will contribute to a long-term increase in Meko’s value through synergies.”

The Rymarz Zdort Maruta team included Managing Partner Pawel Zdort, Partners Iwona Her, Marek Kanczew, and Marcin Serafin, Senior Associates Tomasz Kordala, Tomasz Bakowski, Klaudia Cholewa, Aleksandra Modzelewska, and Adrian Wieslaw, and Associates Aleksander Jakubisiak, Szymon Rutecki, Justyna Niezgoda, Maksymilian Kaszubowski, Ewa Duzynska, Piotr Krolinski, Justyna Niezgoda, Alicja Szymanska, Pawel Wieczorek, Natan Fischer, and Natalia Andrzejczak.

Former Partners Grzegorz Namiotkiewicz and Marcin Bartnicki have moved to Of Counsel positions at Clifford Chance in Warsaw.

Namiotkiewicz specializes in debt capital markets and financial regulatory work. According to Clifford Chance, “during his career, Grzegorz has been involved in the majority of pioneering issuances on the Polish market setting a precedent for future financing transactions, such as the first issue of mortgage-backed securities and revenue bonds in Poland.” He has been with the firm for almost 25 years, joining in 2000.

Bartnicki specializes in corporate and commercial work, acquisitions and disposals, corporate restructuring, joint ventures, and distribution agreements. He has been with the firm since 1999. In 2010 he was promoted to Counsel and, in 2017, to Partner.

Schoenherr has advised Santander Bank Polska on its financing agreement with publicly listed company OEX to support the acquisition of a majority stake in Loyalty Point.

Santander Bank Polska is part of the Santander Group.

Loyalty Point is a technology service company focused on designing, implementing, and managing loyalty programs.

According to Schoenherr, “OEX’s acquisition of Loyalty Point signifies a strategic move to capitalize on emerging opportunities within the loyalty and rewards sector. The financing provided by Santander Bank Polska will enable OEX to execute its expansion plans, enhancing its position as a key player in the industry.”

The Schoenherr team included Partner Ilona Fedurek, Attorney at Law Aleksandra Kulik, and Associate Gabriela Chrzanowska.

Schoenherr did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.

Greenberg Traurig has advised Wood & Company on the joint venture agreements for a logistics project in Tczew, near Gdansk, with logistics developer 7R. Dentons reportedly advised 7R.

The transaction included Wood & Company purchasing the majority of shares in the project company implementing the project.

Wood & Company is a CEE investment bank. It was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Prague.

7R is a Poland-based developer that offers its clients warehouse and industrial facilities. 7R has been active in the commercial real estate sector since 2008, has delivered 1.8 million square meters of gross leasable area, and is developing a further 2.3 million square meters in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The Greenberg Traurig team included Partners Maciej Jodkowski and Robert Gago, Local Partner Klaudia Krolak, Counsel Karol Lewandowski, Senior Associate Filip Drgas, Associates Paulina Horodenska-Wieczorek, Agnieszka Lichota, Daria Kostewicz, and Alicja Flis, Junior Associates Artur Hammermeister, Justyna Kozik, and Hanna Zaboklicka, and Paralegal Przemyslaw Susol.