Bondoc și Asociații Law Firm assisted UniCredit SpA with the acquisition of Alpha Bank Romania in light of the subsequent merger between UniCredit Bank and Alpha Bank Romania S.A., an intricate and significant process that will change the banking landscape in Romania. UniCredit has acquired a 90.1% stake in Alpha Bank România S.A. from Alpha International Holdings S.M.S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Alpha Bank. The transaction price included the exchange of a 9.9% stake in the share capital of UniCredit Bank S.A. and the payment of approximately €255 million.
Further to the merger envisaged to be conducted after this acquisition, UniCredit Group will become the third player in the local market, with a combined market share of approximately 12% in terms of total assets.
“This transaction represents a decisive moment in the Romanian banking market. We are honored to have had the opportunity to assist UniCredit in this landmark transaction and to contribute to a major project. We thank UniCredit’s team for the trust and openness shown during this complex process that involved numerous departments of the firm” said Lucian Bondoc, Managing Partner of Bondoc și Asociații SCA. “The process required a rigorous and extensive legal analysis in order to achieve the result pursued by the parties in the shortest time possible, a close collaboration between all the teams involved, as well as a very close cooperation with UniCredit’s local legal team” said Simona Petrișor, Banking & Finance practice coordinator of Bondoc și Asociații.
The legal assistance provided for this transaction included an extensive due diligence process, support in connection with the transaction documents, the procurement of corporate approvals and identification of and assistance with the necessary regulatory permits. Bondoc și Asociații team was coordinated by Lucian Bondoc, Managing Partner and Simona Petrișor, Partner, and included partners Bogdan Bunrău, Viorel Nicolae Dinu, Monica Iancu, Daniela Gladunea, Raluca Nădejde and Cosmin Stăvaru and associates Matei Vîlcov, Alexandru Daniliuc, Oana Dănilă, Andra Gheorghe, Alexandru Golu, Rareș Iacob, Ionuț Lechea, Gabriela Pop, Andrei Prună, Florin Sandu, Alexandru Tofan, Silviu Vasiliu, Mihai Vlăsceanu, Alina Zaharia.
The assistance provided to UniCredit in respect of the English law was ensured by international law firm White & Case, coordinated by partner Ashley Ballard.
Bondoc și Asociații regularly assists clients in connection with a broad range of M&A and financial services projects and remains a trusted partner for the companies seeking to navigate the intricacies of transactions in highly regulated sectors in Romania.