Asters acted as a Ukrainian legal counsel to Anadolu Efes Biracilik Ve Malt Sanayii A.S. (Anadolu Efes), one of the world’s largest brewing companies, and Efes Ukraine PrJSC, its Ukrainian subsidiary, in connection with the merger of businesses of Anadolu Efes and Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A./N.V. (AB InBev) in Ukraine and Russia. The largest deal in the Ukrainian M&A market in recent years resulted in AB InBev Efes joint venture with a value of about USD 2 billion.
Asters' team, in coordination with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, London, Anadolu Efes' global counsel, supported major aspects of the deal. Particularly, Asters obtained a merger clearance from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, conducted legal due diligence of AB InBev's Ukrainian assets, participated in preparation and negotiation of transactional documentation, advised the client on various matters of corporate and commercial law, intellectual property and real estate, and assisted with completion of the transaction by the parties.
Asters' project team was led by Partner Vadym Samoilenko. Counsel Oles Kvyat directed advising on corporate, commercial and regulatory law, Partner Julia Semeniy – on intellectual property law, Partner Roman Kostenko – on real estate matters, and Partner Igor Svechkar and Counsel Sergiy Glushchenko – on antitrust aspects.
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Asters is a full-service independent national law firm that has maintained a strong presence in Ukraine since 1995. Asters has extensive industry-specific experience and plays a leading role in advising clients in various market sectors. The Firm has consistently remained at the top of the Ukrainian legal market throughout its history. It is acknowledged as the Law Firm of the Decade by Ukraine's Legal Awards 2016.The Firm is also a two-time winner of the Law Firm of the Year: Ukraine and the CIS award (The Lawyer European Awards 2014 and 2015) and holds top positions in the most authoritative international and Ukrainian market reviews: The Legal 500, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, IFLR 1000, Who's Who Legal, Best Lawyers, Expert Guides, and Top 50 Law Firms Annual National Ranking.