Katarzyna Kucharczyk has joined Orsted as Senior Legal Counsel in Warsaw.
Kucharczyk moved from CMS where she has been working since 2011. She first joined the firm in 2004 as an Associate and worked there until 2008. She then joined DZP, where she worked as a Senior Associate between 2008 and 2011. She then rejoined CMS as a Senior Associate and was promoted to Counsel in 2016.
Originally reported by CEE In-House Matters.
JGA Ginckaj, Morawiec, Olszewski, Stankiewicz has advised Otwarty Rynek Elektroniczny – operating under the Marketplanet brand – on its acquisition of Portal PZP.
According to JGA, “both companies operate in the market of tools supporting tenders and the entire purchasing process in public administration units.”
The JGA team included Partner Grzegorz Morawiec and Attorneys at Law Joanna Ostrzewska, Natalia Kacka, Dagmara Ksiezyk-Ryczko, Jan Sluzalek, and Michal Burzynski.
JGA did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.
DLA Piper has advised ONDE on its sale of two photovoltaic power plants in Gizycko with a total capacity of 18 megawatts to Engie Zielona Energia in a share deal for all shares in Cyranka. Dentons advised Engie on the acquisition.
According to DLA Piper, “this transaction is the first development project implemented by ONDE in the develop, build, and sell formula. ONDE intends to allocate the acquired funds to the implementation of further power plants from its portfolio.” Its investment pipeline has a potential of 769 megawatts, of which projects totaling 209 megawatts already have a building permit.
“The value of Cyranka in the enterprise value formula was set at approximately PLN 75 million. The final amount that ONDE received from the buyer as part of the transaction was adjusted by the value of net working capital and the value of Cyranka’s net debt, including debt from loans to finance the construction of the above-mentioned photovoltaic power plants, which the buyer undertook to repay under the transaction,” DLA Piper reported.
ONDE is an infrastructure contractor for the renewable energy sector in Poland specializing in the construction of wind and photovoltaic farms. Part of the Erbud Group, ONDE is a public company that has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2021.
Engie Group company Engie Zielona Energia operates in the renewable energy sector to generate energy, sell electricity and gas to end users, manage portfolios, trade energy, and sell and install photovoltaic installations.
ONDE’s 18-megawatt Cyranka PV project received a new financing from mBank earlier this year (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 2, 2023).
The DLA Piper team included Partner Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz, Counsel Marek Kleczek, and Associates Kamila Mozdzen and Arkadiusz Karwala.
The Dentons team included Partner Agnieszka Kulinska, Counsel Filip Raubo, and Associate Julia Krynska, working with a larger due diligence team.
DLA Piper has advised Bracia Sadownicy and its founders on joining forces with minority investor Syntaxis Capital – providing a mezzanine loan – to acquire Victoria Cymes. Grant Thornton advised both the buyer and the investor on due diligence for the target. CMS reportedly advised Syntaxis Capital.
Bracia Sadownicy, located in Smilowice, operates in the orchard and fruit and vegetable processing market and offers a wide range of apple-based products, including juices, purees, and beverages.
Walcz-headquartered Victoria Cymes, in operation since 1981, has a portfolio of more than 160 products, including syrups, beverages, and water in addition to fresh juices, HPP-fixed juices, pasteurized juices, and smoothies. The company employs approximately 160 people and has around 140 collaborators.
Syntaxis Capital is a private debt investor dedicated to providing growth credit for mid-market companies.
According to Grant Thornton, “the business objective of the newly formed group is to double its turnover within three years (estimated at around PLN 200 million in revenue for the current year) and build one of the strongest and most efficient direct distribution networks for fresh products in Poland.”
The DLA Piper team included Partner Jakub Domalik-Plakwicz, Senior Associate Michal Banasiak, and Associate Jakub Niemiec working on the transaction, with Senior Associate Aleksander Haleniuk and Junior Associates Szymon Piotrowski and Jakub Wiatrzyk working on the financing.
The Grant Thornton team included Partner Katarzyna Ciesielska.
Former Counsel Michal Lisawa has been promoted to a Partner position with Baker McKenzie in Poland, effective July 1, 2023.
A Co-Head of the firm’s Employment practice in Poland, Lisawa joined Baker McKenzie back in 2019. Before that, he spent nine years with CMS, during which he was also seconded to Diageo as a Legal Counsel for four months, and left the firm as a Senior Associate. Earlier, he spent one year with EY Law as a Lawyer, between 2009 and 2010. He had initially met the Baker McKenzie team back in 2008 when he spent time with the firm as a Trainee.
“I am grateful to all of my family, friends, mentors, and colleagues who supported me on this journey,” Lisawa commented when announcing his appointment. “Exciting times ahead!”
Baker McKenzie has advised Huuuge, Inc. on its approximately USD 150 million time-limited share buy-back of company shares listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Huuuge Games is a US-based developer and publisher of free-to-play games for mobile devices and online platforms. Being incorporated in Delaware, trading in Huuuge shares is also subject to restrictions under US securities laws, the firm reported.
The Baker McKenzie team included Warsaw-based Partners Marcin Chylinski and Piotr Wysocki, Counsel Katarzyna Grodziewicz, Associate Filip Lajkowski, and Junior Associate Marta Rykalovska, as well as lawyers from the firm’s London and New York offices.
Baker McKenzie did not respond to our inquiry on the matter.
GNZ Legal Gorzelnik Nentwig Ziebinski has advised Modus Asset Management on its ten-year virtual power purchase agreement to supply 50 gigawatt-hours of solar energy per year to off-taker Zabka Polska. CMS reportedly advised Zabka Polska.
Modus Asset Management is a licensed fund management company, operating under the supervision of the Bank of Lithuania. The company focuses on renewable energy investments.
Zabka Polska, part of CVC Capital Partners, is a convenience store chain in Poland. It operates around 9,000 stores across the country.
Back in 2021, GNZ Legal had also advised Modus Asset Management on the refinancing of its Polish photovoltaic portfolio (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 20, 2021).
The GNZ Legal team was led by Partner Andrzej Nentwig.
Editor’s Note: After this article was published, CMS confirmed it had advised Zabka Polska on its long-term VPPA with companies managed by Modus Asset Management. The firm’s team was led by Partners Michal Andruszkiewicz and Lukasz Szatkowski and included Senior Associates Adam Kedziora and Kacper Stanosz.
Former B2RLaw Partner Aleksandra Polak has joined LSW Bienkowski, Laskowski, Lesnodorski, Melzacki & Partners in Warsaw as a Partner.
Polak is a technology M&A lawyer that also focuses on private equity, venture capital, and ESG matters. Prior to joining LSW, she spent four years with B2RLaw as a Partner, from 2019 to 2023. Before that, she spent two and a half years as a Senior Associate with the former Maruta Wachta, between 2016 and 2019, and another two and a half with Kochanski Zieba & Partners, also as a Senior Associate, between 2014 and 2016. Polak started her career as an Attorney at Law with Greenberg Traurig in 2012, where she spent almost two years.
“I’m thrilled I’ll be working with lawyers who not only excel at business, but are cool, easy-going, and relatable people,” Polak said when announcing the move. “The market will hear more exciting news from us in the future!”
Gessel has advised the Avallon MBO Fund III on its acquisition of a 70% stake in mobile home manufacturer Letniskowo. Accreo Legal reportedly advised Letniskowo.
Avallon MBO is an investment outfit with a focus on management buy-outs.
Letniskowo is a builder of mobile homes, turning out approximately 500 units every year. In 2022, Letniskowo posted sales of PLN 115 million and had over 170 employees.
The Gessel team included Partner Maciej Kozuchowski, Managing Associate Bartlomiej Wozniak, Senior Associates Diana Strzalkowska and Majka Rucinska, and Associate Karolina Sobola.
Editor’s Note: After this article was published, Accreo Legal confirmed it had advised Letniskowo. The firm’s team included Managing Partner Jaroslaw Antosik and Attorney at Law Katarzyna Jakubowska.
Greenberg Traurig has advised Animex Foods on its acquisition of an 80% stake in DeVeris Polska from an unidentified majority shareholder and Amencer International Polska. Meissner Koziol Kaczmarek & Partner advised the sellers.
Animex Foods is a meat producer in the Polish market, specializing in the production of pork, poultry, and processed meats.
DeVeris is a Polish producer of poultry-derived protein products.
According to Greenberg Traurig, “by incorporating DeVeris’ expertise and production infrastructure, Animex Foods enhances its processing capabilities to accelerate growth and meet the evolving demands of customers worldwide.”
The Greenberg Traurig team included Partner Michal Fereniec, Senior Associate Agata del Rosal-Izyk, and Junior Associates Przemyslaw Nycz and Natalia Potrubacz.
The Meissner Koziol Kaczmarek & Partner team included Partner Maciej Kaczmarek and Senior Associate Szymon Gulczynski.