JPM Jankovic Popovic Mitic team, led by Senior Partner Nenad Popovic, including Bojana Javoric Micovic (Senior Associate) and Luka Hajdukovic and Katarina Savic (Associates) have successfully advised Mr. Goran Kovačević in selling his majority stake in Gomex, the leading Serbian grocery retailer, to CEECAT Capital.
JPM has also, together with CMS London based office, successfully advised SEAF Balkan Fund on sale of its whole share in Gomex to CEECAT Capital, by which SEAF has exited the Serbian market.
The investment in Gomex is CEECAT Capital’s first investment in Serbia and the fifth investment in its new fund, CEECAT Fund II. CEECAT Fund II focuses on regional champions, supporting the Fund’s themes driven by core convergence, customer orientation, export competitiveness and import substitution in the fast-growing markets of Emerging Europe.
Capitalizing on its strong brand and network, Gomex will accelerate its growth and market position in Serbia, to emerge as a national champion in the sector. As stated by Goran Kovacevic, founder of Gomex: ‘With the help of CEECAT Capital, Gomex will accelerate its growth and will have a more powerful claim to be one of the leaders in its industry with this investment.’
Established in 1997 in Zrenjanin, Gomex is a modern retail network, focusing on the every-day fresh concept and neighborhood/convenience store format. Together with the investment from SEAF South Balkan Fund in 2007, the Company has successfully penetrated Vojvodina region as well as Central Serbia. Today, Gomex is one of the most important employers in the country with approximately 2,500 employees.