Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Freshfields operates at the forefront of restructuring and insolvency services in the CEE region. What sets us apart is our integrated approach combining the expertise of finance, corporate, tax and employment lawyers to solve multijurisdictional corporate restructuring needs. We are the ‘one-stop-shop’ for banks handling all restructuring types like the transfer of operations, the sale of shares and NPLs, and far-reaching tax issues. To advice buyers and sellers of individual NPL positions and portfolios, including options analysis, structuring of processes, due diligence of portfolios, as well as all aspects of the sales/purchase process, is our strength. We offer investors, lenders and borrowers an integrated advice on the full range of debt and equity products, as well as asset-specific issues in the real estate sector.

We have lead many ground-breaking projects, including advising:

• ALPINE BAU on restructuring of its €2.5bn financial debt considering a number of jurisdictions including CEE and Asia;
• a global institutional real estate investor on a joint venture structure and a €220m refinancing of a real estate project in Croatia;
• a CEE-focussed institution on strategies to deal with its portfolios on NPLs in several countries;
• and BayernLB, on the sale of its 67.08 per cent stake of Hypo Alpe Adria and the subsequent winding-down of the bank (first application of the BRRD-regime), including the separation of Hypo’s CEE business and several legal disputes;

Finally our StrongerTogether programme enables us to select the best lawyers in CEE you need.

EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality of services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies across the world.

In Central and Southeast Europe, EY cross-border restructuring team led by Raj Apte brings solution orientated restructuring advisory utilising international best practices and Western technologies.

This international team works closely with EY local country teams able to deliver a broad range of complementary services (e.g. independent business review, valuation, financial modelling, sector expertise, operational restructuring, credit rating advisory, tax advisory, etc.) tailored to the need of any restructuring situation while respecting and being sensitive to local market aspects.

Whether we work for corporates or their creditors, such comprehensive approach represents a one stop- shop for our clients providing best-in-class advisory support to achieve an optimal outcome in any stressed financing or restructuring situation helping to preserve value to the stakeholders.