This is by far the broadest area of our practice, involving nearly all the partners and the majority of SK&S associates. It encompasses assistance in privatization transactions, direct greenfield investments and transformations in the private sector.
As regards privatisation transactions, ownership transformations in the following sectors should be mentioned: the car industry (including the privatisation of passenger car manufacturers "Fiat", trucks "STAR", and producers of car parts), the cement industry ("Strzelce Opolskie/Górażdże" cement works), the glass production sector ("Jarosław", "Antoninek" and "Kunice" glassworks), the stationery sector ("Kwidzyn" and "Klucze" cellulose plants), the construction sector ("Opoczno" plants), furniture ("Swarzędz"), and agro-food (sugar factory) sectors. We have also rendered services in respect of ownership transformations in the banking sector (privatisation of Bank Zachodni).
Among the greenfield transactions and transformations in the private sector, our participation in the following should be mentioned: investments in the motor industry (Toyota and Isuzu), the food industry (Cadbury Schweppes, Bakoma), the chipboard sector (a company from the Krono group), the metal packaging sector (Crown Cork), the industrial gas and tobacco sectors, the trade sector ("Eurocash" warehouses and "Biedronka" discount stores), the electronics industry (Alcatel), and the software sector (Softbank). We have also actively participated in investments and transformations in the publishing sector (including "Elle", "Film" and "PWN"), in the insurance sector (PZU S.A. and TU Cigna) and the banking and leasing sectors.
We have implemented numerous projects in this area of legal practice in close cooperation with foreign banks, including in particular the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and leading investment banks worldwide.
Aside from our transactions work, we have provided and continue to provide advice to numerous foreign firms of world renown, as well as the largest Polish companies, both privately and publicly owned.
Our achievements include participating in drafting and implementing a range of restructuring concepts, particularly in the liquid fuels and mining industry and banking and finance fields. We have advised our clients on introducing numerous processes for merging, dividing and transforming companies, non-standard increases in share capital and mandatory share purchase and redemption. Finally, we should mention our negotiation of numerous joint-venture agreements for our clients.
Investment services form an important field of practice, especially in the "special economic zones". Mention should be made of the legal assistance we provided to industrial giants such as Toyota, Isuzu, Electrolux, and Gillette.
