#kinstellar serbia

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Kinstellar Advises Strickland Metals In Major Gold Mining Acquisition In Serbia

SOG in cooperation with Kinstellar is proud to announce its role as legal counsel to Strickland Metals Limited, an ASX-listed mineral exploration company from Australia, on its acquisition of Zlatna Reka Resources d.o.o. Beograd-Vracar. This acquisition marks a significant development in Serbia’s burgeoning mining industry, as the project holds an impressive 5.4 million ounce gold resource.

Kinstellar’s team, led by Senior Associates Sara Ostojić and Mario Kijanović, as well as Associate Vuk Vučković, provided comprehensive legal services for this acquisition. Our involvement included a thorough legal due diligence of the mining titles, permits, and accompanying documentation of the target company.

Zlatna Reka Resources, whose sole shareholder is Betoota Holdings Ltd, is ultimately owned by Ibaera Capital Fund, a private equity group with its seat in the Cayman Islands and offices in Australia.

Strickland Metals Limited is an Australian mineral exploration company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The company is focused on discovering and developing significant mineral resources to create value for its shareholders. This acquisition enhances Strickland Metals' portfolio and positions them strategically within Serbia's mining sector.

The Mining Industry in Serbia

Serbia’s mining industry has been experiencing significant growth and investment in recent years. The country is rich in various mineral resources, including copper, gold, and lithium, making it a key player in the regional mining landscape.

kinstellar serbia is known for its significant reserves of gold and other precious metals. The Timok Mag matic Complex is one of the most notable regions, hosting substantial deposits of gold, copper, and other valuable minerals. The Bor and Majdanpek mining districts are also well-known for their rich mineral resources. Recent exploration activities have identified several promising sites, leading to increased interest from international mining companies

The mining industry is diverse, encompassing the extraction of various minerals, including copper, gold, zinc, and lithium. The sector has seen robust growth, with significant contributions to the national economy. Key players in the industry include both domestic and international companies, such as Zijin Mining Group, Rio Tinto, and now Strickland Metals.

The mining sector in Serbia employs a substantial workforce and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. The government’s commitment to supporting the industry through favorable policies and infrastructure development has further spurred growth.

The acquisition of Zlatna Reka Resources by Strickland Metals is a testament to the growing attractiveness of Serbia's mining sector to international investors. 

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Kinstellar Advises Evelixon Trading In Two Transactions In The Serbian Wind Power Sector

Kinstellar advised Evelixon Trading Limited on the acquisition of a 100% share in the project company Grand Wind Park from Windvision Serbia Holding. The project, known as the WN NBT WIND 1 wind farm, is currently in the early stages of development. Located in the city of Pančevo, the farm is planned to have an installed power capacity of 120 MW.

Evelixon Trading Limited has a few projects in their portfolio in Serbia in the early stages of development or nearing "ready-to-build" status.

Kinstellar’s team provided comprehensive legal advice throughout the transaction – performing a legal due diligence, drafting the transaction documents - including the SPA, and assisting with the signing and closing processes. The transaction was closed during June 2023.

Additionally, we advised Evelixon Trading Limited on the sale of a 50% share in Grand Wind Park – the same project company involved in the initial transaction, to MK Green Energy Limited, a member of the MK Group.

On the other hand, the project company's acquired subsidiary DVD Windpower is actively developing the wind farm Vetropark 1 in its’ early stages. This project, located in the City of Pančevo, has a planned installed power capacity of 150 MW and is adjacent to the 120 MW Wind Farm. The transaction structure envisages a merger of Grand Wind Park and DVD Windpower into one company that will eventually develop the wind farm with a planned installed capacity of 270 MW - combining the 120 MW and 150 MW Wind Farms.

Over the course of the second project, the team worked on the transaction documents - including the SPA and SA, and assisted with signing and closing processes. The transaction was signed in April 2023 and the closing took place in January 2024.

In both transactions, the Kinstellar team was led by Partners Radovan Grbović and Milan Samardžić and Senior Associate Aleksa Bošnjović. In addition, Associates Jelisaveta Folićprovided valuable assistance in M&A matters and Vuk Vučković handled the real estate issues.

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Kinstellar Advises Banking Consortium On Telekom Srbija's Tower Deal  - Kinstellar

Kinstellar’s team in Serbia, together with global law firm Paul Hastings, has successfully advised Deutsche Bank, Alpha Bank, UniCredit, and UniCredit Bank Serbia on a EUR 205 million financing for global investment firm Actis in relation to their acquisition of a carved-out tower portfolio from Telekom Srbija, a leading telecommunications operator in the Central and Eastern European (“CEE”) region.

The carved-out portfolio is comprised of approximately 1,800 macro towers across Serbia, Bosnia & Hercegovina, and Montenegro.  

Kinstellar’s team, led by Petar Kojdić (Partner) and Mina Srećković (Managing Associate), played a pivotal role advising on the financing aspects of this transaction. Our services included structuring financial arrangements and negotiating financing documents.

The communication towers market in the CEE and Western Balkans regions is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years, driven by escalating consumer demand for mobile data, the introduction of advanced technologies like 5G and 6G, and evolving mobile capacity and coverage needs.

Telekom Srbija, the leading telecommunications operator in Serbia, is a key player shaping the communication landscape in the CEE region. Decisions such as the recent sale of a carved-out tower portfolio showcase Telekom Srbija's adaptability to global trends and its focus on optimising its assets.

Petar Kojdić is a Partner in the Belgrade office and the head of the firm’s Banking & Finance service line in Serbia.

Petaradvises lenders and borrowers of all types on a wide range of cross-border and local finance transactions, including acquisition and leveraged finance, project finance, debt restructurings and re-financings as well as loan and portfolio sales transactions.

Petar also focuses on legal and regulatory advice related to structured finance, netting, derivatives, financial collateral, securitisation as well as repo and capital markets transactions. His work involves negotiating finance and hedging documents with various counterparties (banks and other financial institutions, funds, corporates and sovereign entities) and issuing netting, collateral and other legal opinions. Petar is an author of ISDA's netting opinion for Serbia.

Mina Srećković is a Managing Associate in the Belgrade office.

With over ten years of experience, Mina specialises in corporate and banking & finance, with special knowledge of PPPs, concessions, public debt financing, foreign exchange regulations and cross-border transactions, project finance, non-performing loans, equity and debt securities transactions, as well as regulatory compliance, corporate governance and licensing of institutions operating in the banking and financial sector in Serbia.

Petar Kojdić Partner

+38 11 3210 202petar.kojdic@kinstellar.com

Mina Srećković Managing Associate

+381 69 1811 019mina.sreckovic@kinstellar.com

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Kinstellar Appoints New Sector And Service Line Heads And Head Of German Desk

Kinstellar supports professional growth by offering a broad range of career development opportunities for our team, including the role of sector/service line head or co-head. We provide growth opportunities to all of our talented lawyers with the relevant experience and an outstanding track record.

We are delighted to announce the following appointments:

Csilla Andrékó, Partner in our Budapest office, is the Co-Head of the firm-wide Banking & Finance Service Line. Csilla is one of the founders of the Firm and the former Managing Partner of the Budapest office. Csilla also served as the head of the regional Banking & Finance and Restructuring & Insolvency Service Lines. She retired from active practice last year, but has remained close to the firm and is a valued mentor to our team. Csilla has agreed to step out of retirement to help refresh and guide our Banking & Finance service line.

Csilla has over 30 years of experience in project and acquisition finance, restructuring and insolvency matters, PPP/PFI finance, international banking and syndicated lending as well as in capital markets. She is a leading name and authority among her peers with an outstanding career, and we are confident that, under her guidance, we will continue building a strong and acknowledged service.

Magdalena Răducanu, Special Counsel in our Bucharest office, is the Co-Head of the firm-wide Banking & Finance Service Line. She has more than 22 years of experience advising leading banks, financial institutions and borrowers on banking and finance matters. Since joining the Firm and our Banking & Finance Service Line in 2021, Magdalena has advised or coordinated banking mandates totalling EUR 4 billion.

Magdalena has expertise in a broad range of banking and finance matters, having dedicated her focus exclusively to this area and to financial regulatory matters. Lately, she has focused significant efforts assisting banks on various ESG-related mandates.

Miloš Velimirović, the Managing Partner of our Belgrade office, is the Co-Head of the firm-wide Financial Institutions sector. He co-leads the sector alongside Diana Dimova, Managing Partner of our Sofia office.

With more than 15 years of experience in banking & finance, Miloš has advised companies and financial institutions on issues associated with the regulation of the financial services sector and on M&A, data protection, project financing, and other general matters. He has participated in complex financial transactions of corporate clients, government, municipalities, and state-owned entities with a total value of over EUR 2 billion. Miloš is particularly active in investment funds regulatory matters and the fintech industry.

Before joining SOG Law Firm and subsequently Kinstellar, Miloš worked as the Head of Serbia’s Public Finance Department, served as a member of the Credit Committee at Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank, and was Finance Specialist at the World Bank Competitiveness and Jobs project. His combined education in law, finance, and business, as well as his background in banking, enable him to provide clients with comprehensive advice. His experience in public offices and position with the World Bank make him well positioned to advise clients cooperating with public authorities and institutions.

Jan Lehký, Counsel in our Prague office, is the Co-Head of the firm-wide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) service line. He co-leads the sector alongside Olena Kuchynska, Managing Partner of our Kyiv office.

With more than 15 years of experience, Jan focuses on a range of ESG and regulatory issues with a focus on helping investors with ESG and governance strategies, including navigating ESG transparency, ESG disclosures and reporting, environmental regulation, circular economy issues, ESG litigation risk, and ESG-related obligations and risk assessments. His expertise also includes structuring real estate transactions, such as acquisitions of real estate portfolios, construction law, and the permitting process during various stages of development, as well as advising on high-value, long-term lease agreements, title insurance, litigation, and general commercial and contract law.

Lukáš Mrázik, Managing Associate in our Bratislava office and Co-Head of the firm-wide Data & Cybersecurity service line, is also Co-Head of the firm-wide Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) sector. He co-leads the sector alongside Viliam Myšička, Partner in our Bratislava office.

Lukáš has over eight years of experience focusing on the Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors, with particular expertise in data protection, intellectual property and corporate matters. Lukáš holds CIPP/E, CIPT and CIPP/US certifications awarded by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Prior to joining Kinstellar, he worked in London as an Associate at a global consulting firm owned by a leading technology company, where he assisted on privacy and data protection issues and all aspects of GDPR implementation.

Iustinian Captariu, Partner in our Bucharest office, is the Head of the firm-wide Energy & Natural Resources sector and service line. 

Iustin has over 15 years of experience advising local and international clients on all aspects of energy law, including energy M&A, renewable investments and developments, upstream projects, joint-ventures, reorganisations, disputes, licensing, and all types of regulatory matters.

Lukáš Ševčík, the Managing Partner of the Prague office and the firm-wide Head of the Defence & Security sector, has been appointed to lead our German Desk.

Lukáš is a German-qualified lawyer, educated and trained in Germany and is a member of the Frankfurt Bar Association. He has 30 years of experience advising international clients on their investments and divestitures in CEE.  For further reference, please also visit our dedicated German Desk webpage (in German).

Lukáš Ševčík Managing Partner

+420 221 622 258lukas.sevcik@kinstellar.com

Miloš Velimirović Managing Partner

+381 63 555 156 milos.velimirovic@kinstellar.com