Corporate M&A
Extensive experience with large and mid-sized transactions covering the full spectrum of corporate, commercial and M&A law
Leading corporate & commercial law firm in Central and Eastern Europe
Whether you are a buyer, seller or target, we represent boards and investors with the efficiency and sensitivity you need. As one of the top corporate law firms, we have been at the vanguard of the development of the private and public mergers and acquisitions markets across the region for decades. Your business will benefit from our experienced corporate and commercial lawyers successfully negotiating and closing all types of transactions.
Key experts
“The firm is regarded as a dominant force across a number of transactional areas in Austria, with highly ranked teams providing cross-border expertise in areas such as finance, capital markets and M&A. The team is frequently sought out by Austrian and international private equity funds, particularly in relation to transactions involving CEE jurisdictions.”
– Chambers Global
“This is truly the premier corporate M&A team in the Vienna market. They have a deep understanding of the law, a very good commercial sense, are able to explain complex issues in a very down-to-earth, understandable manner and always meet their commitments.”
– The Legal 500
What makes our team the best corporate and M&A law firm for you?
Our regional, integrated firm offers distinct advantages in cross-border transactions.
- An established international business law firm with 60+ years of experience in Austria and CEE/SEE
- A fully integrated, single team of 340 locally-qualified lawyers in 13 countries and offices
- Collaboration and innovation across multidisciplinary teams and offices
- Experience with large and mid-sized transactions covering the full spectrum of corporate, M&A and regulatory law for our clients
- Knowledge and expertise to add value to deals across various industries
- Excellent client satisfaction – responsive, client-oriented, and consistent
Leading the legal field
Our lawyers are involved in key transactions and matters across the region, bringing their industry expertise, specialized knowledge and business acumen to add value to our clients’ work.
Advised bidder on the first-ever competing takeover offer in Austria (€3.2bn)
Buy side advice on €810 million European fertilizer business acquisition
Advised on cross-border Hydrogen Joint Venture
Buy side advice on €830 million insurance acquisition
Specialist corporate/M&A lawyers in Central and Eastern Europe
Unicorn investment
Wolf Theiss advised Coatue and DST Global as lead investors in the Series B and Series C financing round of Vienna-based e-learning start-up GoStudent in the course of subsequent €70 million and €205 million capital increases.
Achieved unicorn status
GoStudent achieved unicorn status with the Series C investment at a valuation of over €1.4 billion.
Hydrogen Energy Joint Venture
Wolf Theiss advised H2 Energy Europe SA on the structuring of the transaction and the corporate governance aspects for a 50/50 joint venture with Phillips 66 Limited to create a European network of hydrogen refuelling stations through JET H2 Energy Austria GmbH.
€3.2 billion, first-ever competing takeover in Austria
In a landmark transaction and the first-ever competing public takeover offer in Austria, Wolf Theiss as lead counsel advised CPI Property Group S.A. (CPIPG) in connection with its €3.2 billion mandatory takeover offer for all outstanding shares and convertible bonds of Vienna and Warsaw dual-listed IMMOFINANZ AG. In addition to the public takeover, Wolf Theiss acted as lead counsel to CPIPG in obtaining merger control clearance in eight jurisdictions and advised on all Austrian law aspects of a €2.5 billion bridge loan facility for financing the transaction.
€810 million European fertilizer business acquisition
Wolf Theiss advised Czech-based group Agrofert on its acquisition of Borealis’ nitrogen business across Europe. Agrofert’s offer valued Borealis’ nitrogen business, on an enterprise value basis, at €810 million. Wolf Theiss’ multi-disciplinary and cross-border team acted as lead counsel and advised on all aspects of the transaction, including all regulatory clearances. This transaction is one of the largest within the fertilizer sector in Europe in recent years.
€830 million European insurance acquisition
Wolf Theiss advised VIENNA INSURANCE GROUP AG on the acquisition of Aegon’s insurance, pension and asset management business in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey, valued at €830 million. Wolf Theiss’ multi-disciplinary and cross-border team acted as lead counsel and advised on all aspects of the transaction, including all regulatory clearances.
Areas of specialisation
Venture Capital and Start-ups
Some say that we have entered the age of the start-up. A number of exciting opportunities for VC investors have led to the growth of a real start-up ecosystem in the region. In such a rapidly and unpredictably developing field, you need proactive advice and advisers who can facilitate collaboration between entrepreneurs and venture capital investors. When time and costs are an issue, our industry specialists allow us to provide real deal value, ensuring successful transactions and a solid foundation for your future growth.
Private Equity Law
From fund formation to LP & GP agreements, regulatory compliance and governance and portfolio M&A, we know how to leverage your private equity in the region and make it work for your future. Our lawyers facilitate and negotiate transactions for you, and execute other instruments such as complex financings, strategic partnerships, leveraged buyouts, cross-border M&A, carve-out transactions, IPOs and trade sale exits.
Commercial Contracts
We help you with all matters related to commercial contract law procedures and protocols in order to legally run and operate a company and specialise in rendering corporate services on the basis of standardised and centralised communication and documentation.
Our corporate law attorneys’ expertise includes franchise law, commercial agency and sale of goods law, contractual law, distribution law, and other business law advice. Finally, in case of possible disputes, there is often the question of including a precautionary agreement on experts, who as arbitrators can clarify difficult technical and/or commercial issues.
Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Compliance is hard enough as it is without accounting for the complications of different jurisdictions. We have the competence you need to deal with corporate and financial law matters, implementing corporate governance regimes and compliance programmes across borders and jurisdictions.
Listed companies, privately held groups, private equity fund managers and start-ups are just some of the kinds of entities we have helped guide through the compliance thick
Joint Ventures
Much of what we do is aimed at simplifying the complex and making it work for you. This is especially true for the complexities of joint venture partnerships. We guide you through investigating and implementing funding, management and governance mechanisms that mitigate potential disputes and difficulties.
We accompany you over the gamut of the joint venture lifecycle, from initial formation to regulatory approvals, financing, corporate law governance and exit structures.
Privatisation and Liberalisation
Our expert advice is born of the practical business world that you work in: our lawyers have worked in the financial services, telecommunications, airline and energy industries and make their knowledge of the drivers, challenges, valuation and structural issues of these sectors work for the success of your transaction. You can rely on us.
We advise clients and sovereigns on privatisation transactions in multiple bidder situations and have experience in negotiating with governments, their advisors, stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
Distressed Mergers and Acquisitions
In your time of need, we are there to help you calmly sort out effective options to reduce debt burden and optimise your legal position in reorganisations and turnarounds. We advise companies, international, national and regional financial institutions, lenders, alternative debt and equity providers as well as special situation funds in domestic as well as cross-border matters.
Public mergers and acquisitions
We are equally effective in public M&A matters. When consensus seems elusive, we find solutions with regulators and stakeholders in the most complex of matters, including executing the acquisition of controlling and minority stakes and both mandatory and voluntary bids. No matter what side of the transaction you are on, as bidder, seller, target or bondholder, we advise you on the structuring of due diligence, negotiations with other parties, and approvals from regulatory authorities.
Private mergers and acquisitions
Founders, entrepreneurs and investors in privately held companies trust us as their corporate and merger and acquisitions law firm for the success of their private M&A transactions. Our knowledge of business law and regulations make cross-border transactions work for you in the globalised marketplace of today. We provide the depth of specialist knowledge and breadth of regional coverage in M&A law needed to make your venture successful.
What others say about us
“The Wolf Theiss Corporate / M&A Team with its high level of quality lawyers is an excellent choice and our preferred partner for all matters of corporate law and transaction work.”
“Compared to other law firms and departments, we particularly noticed the courteous and appreciative interaction with one another.”
“The full-package service combined with high professionalism, timely manner and orientation on the needs of the client.”
– The Legal 500
“The firm has a market leading position in CEE and could provide specific input on very short notice while handling multiple dependencies.”
– IFLR1000
“Understands the CEE region extremely well.”
“Highly professional, service oriented and provide a high-quality work in the entire CEE/SEE region.”
Get in touch
Whether you need an international team with extensive experience, Wolf Theiss can support your business goals through our profound legal practice.
