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Kinstellar advises certain companies within the Schwarz Group on the closing of the acquisition of a majority stake in Supermarket La Cocos in Romania
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that it has advised certain companies within the Schwarz Group, the leading international retail group, on their acquisition of a majority stake in Supermarket La Cocos, a dynamic and fast-growing Romanian hypercash operator, from a consortium comprising Morphosis Capital, CEECAT Capital (SEET), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and private investor Iulian Nica. The transaction, announced in 2025, was completed following conditional clearance from the Romanian Competition Council in February 2026, after an in-depth merger control review. The acquisition marks a significant strategic step by the companies within the Schwarz Group in expanding their presence
Kinstellar advises Gránit Asset Management on landmark acquisition of 8 retail parks and 4 standalone stores in Hungary
Kinstellar has successfully advised Gránit Asset Management on the acquisition of a high-value retail portfolio comprising 8 retail parks and 4 standalone stores across Hungary from Revetas Capital, an international real estate investment company. The portfolio includes eight retail parks and four single-tenant retail properties located in major regional cities, including Sopron, Mosonmagyaróvár, Miskolc, Debrecen, Zalaegerszeg, Siófok, Dunaújváros, Nagykanizsa, Marcali, Tolna, Szekszárd and Szentlőrinc. The assets comprise approximately 45,000 sqm of gross leasable area and are nearly fully leased to a strong tenant mix including C&A, Deichmann, Intersport, Libri, McDonald’s, and Müller. Gránit Asset
Kinstellar advises Habitex on the sale of the former textile factory in Baia Mare to Jumbo
Kinstellar has advised Habitex on the sale of the former textile factory site located in Baia Mare to Jumbo, one of the leading international retail chains in the region. The transaction is part of Jumbo’s ongoing expansion in Romania. The transaction was signed at the end of 2025. The redevelopment of the site is expected to contribute to the revitalisation of the area and enhance the local commercial infrastructure. Kinstellar provided legal assistance to Habitex throughout the transaction, including structuring, negotiation and signing of the transaction documents. Kinstellar’s team advising on the transaction was led by Iunia Nagy (Managing Associate), supported by Malina Andries (Associate).
CRD VI explained: What the new EU bank M&A rulebook means for Austria
CRD VI (Directive (EU) 2024/1619) introduces a new harmonised EU regime requiring EU credit institutions and licensed (mixed) financial holding companies to obtain prior approval and to notify supervisors before carrying out material acquisitions, mergers, divisions, or material transfers of assets and liabilities. The existing regime governing acquisitions or disposals of qualifying holdings in a credit institution will continue to apply in parallel, with some amendments. The new unified regime replaces today’s patchwork of Member State national rules and extends supervisory involvement well beyond the existing qualifying holdings framework. Until now, many Member States (including Austria) required approval only for
AI washing in the workplace: when “AI made us do it” is not enough
Artificial intelligence is increasingly invoked as the explanation behind organisational changes, productivity shifts, or even workforce reductions. In many cases this reflects a genuine technological transformation. In others, however, AI risks becoming a convenient narrative rather than an accurate description of what actually occurs within a business. The numbers are instructive. According to a report published by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, of the 1.2 million job cuts announced by US companies in 2025, AI was cited in approximately 55,000 of them. When workforce decisions are already subject to scrutiny, explanations that do not hold up to legal or factual examination may create additional risks for employers.
Kinstellar launches its regional, comprehensive Tax Service Line
Kinstellar is pleased to announce the launch of the Tax Service Line, marking a significant step in the continued development of the Firm’s integrated, full-service platform. The new Tax Service Line strengthens Kinstellar’s ability to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end tax and legal support across its jurisdictions. The regional Tax Service Line will be led by our reputable tax lawyer and tax advisors and Co-Heads Maja Mayrhuber (Partner, Austria) and Theodor Artenie (Counsel, Romania), who will drive the strategic direction of the practice area and oversee the rollout of the Service Line across the Firm. They will be supported by a core regional team of experienced tax experts, including Atanas Mihaylov (Counsel
Uzbekistan’s rare earth elements sector. Short guide for lawyers, investors and lenders
Uzbekistan is increasingly viewed as a prospective jurisdiction for rare earth elements and associated critical minerals (“REEs”). The sector is primarily policy-driven, with state authorities actively promoting exploration and foreign investment. Under subsoil legislation, REEs fall within categories subject to heightened regulatory oversight, reflecting their economic and strategic significance. As a result, licensing, export, and commercialization conditions may differ from those applicable to ordinary construction or industrial minerals. Our team has prepared a comprehensive guide outlining the most recent developments in the sector. Click on the image below or use this link to read our overview
Kinstellar and KST Law assist Simmons & Simmons on Wise Equity’s acquisition of a majority stake in Marullo
Kinstellar and KST Law have assisted Simmons & Simmons on Turkish law aspects related to the acquisition by Wise Equity, the Milan-based private equity firm, of a majority stake in Marullo. Marullo is recognized as a leader in pistachio products (including semi-finished and finished goods) based in Bronte, Sicily. The deal is designed to support the international growth and expansion of Marullo, strengthening its raw material procurement, and enhancing its position in the high-quality ingredient market. Marullo has a pistachio sourcing and initial processing subsidiary in Turkey. Partner Emre Edmund Özer, Senior Associate Sıla Şaylı and Associate Fırat Erin formed the core team advising the client on the
Kinstellar advises shareholders of ROFA Industrial Automation on the sale of ROFA Group to SPIE
Kinstellar is advising the shareholders of ROFA Industrial Automation on the sale of the German ROFA Group to the listed French SPIE Group. ROFA Industrial Automation (ROFA), headquartered in Bavaria, is a leading provider of automation technology, intralogistics solutions, and special‑purpose machinery with operations in China, Austria, Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States. ROFA’s portfolio covers the full project lifecycle, from consulting and software/hardware engineering to manufacturing, commissioning, and after-sales services. By acquiring ROFA, SPIE aims to strengthen its strategic position in the German industrial services market. The transaction remains subject to antitrust
Kinstellar, together with Goodwin Procter as lead counsel, advises Telehouse Holdings and Andon Zlatev on the sale of Telepoint to Digital Realty, marking its entry into Bulgaria
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that, together with Goodwin Procter as lead counsel, it has advised Telehouse Holdings and Andon Zlatev on the sale of shares in Telepoint to Digital Realty, the world’s largest cloud- and carrier-neutral data center platform, marking Digital Realty’s entry into the Bulgarian market. Telepoint is a leading local data center and interconnection provider and operates two data centers in Sofia, including one of the most highly interconnected facilities in Southeast Europe. Kinstellar advised Telehouse Holdings on all local law aspects of the transaction, which represents a landmark acquisition strengthening Sofia’s role as a key Southeast European interconnection hub. The
Kinstellar welcomes Miloš Gledović as Of Counsel for Energy & Real Estate in Belgrade
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that Miloš Gledović has rejoined our Belgrade office as Of Counsel, strengthening our capabilities in the Energy and Real Estate sectors. With more than 15 years of cross-border experience, Miloš advises on sophisticated energy and real estate matters, with a focus on project finance and construction. His work also includes corporate and tax structuring in the context of complex international transactions, supporting financial institutions, project developers, PE investors, and other industry professionals. In addition, Miloš brings valuable experience from the commercial real estate sector and expanded tax expertise, enabling him to deliver practical, business‑oriented
Europe recalibrates: AI copyright and GDPR scope under pressure
Two parallel developments suggest that Europe is drawing clearer boundaries around both AI ownership and data protection. One comes from the Council and the other from a German court, and both signal a more cautious approach toward redefining legal fundamentals in the name of innovation or administrative simplification. 1. Digital omnibus leak: Member States cut the core of the proposed GDPR reform A leaked Council compromise draft removes entirely the proposed redefinition of “personal data” under the GDPR, and that alone underscores how controversial the Digital Omnibus has become. What happened? In November 2025, the European Commission launched the Digital Omnibus, with one of its central ambitions