Partner

Helen Rodwell

Head of Corporate and M&A

Prague, Czech Republic

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Helen Rodwell is a Partner and the Head of Corporate and M&A practice at CMS Prague.

Under her leadership CMS continues to be one of the busiest M&A legal advisors in CEE. Helen has extensive experience of leading large teams on complex transactions and ensuring clients receive excellent, commercially orientated advice.

She is ranked as a Band 1 corporate lawyer both for the Czech Republic and the entire CEE region by Chambers and has advised on M&A transactions across a number of sectors, including financial services, private equity, energy, consumer products and manufacturing industries.

Relevant experience

A group of investors, led by Partech and including EBRD, Quadrille Capital and J&T Bank, on a EUR 190m fundraising for Rohlik.cz, one of Europe’s leading online grocery businesses.
Zentiva, an Advent International portfolio company, on its acquisition of the CEE business of global generic and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals manufacturer Alvogen.
TPG on the acquisition of the Vector Parks Logistics Centres in Slovakia and Czech Republic from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA).
Cube Infrastructure on the investment into a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), open-access networks for residential, business and public administration in selected areas of the Czech Republic currently under-served by high speed internet networks.
The shareholders in Kiwi.com, one of the most rapidly growing technology companies worldwide, on the sale of a majority stake in the company to General Atlantic.
PPF, the Czech-based financial group, on the acquisition, together with Sabanci Holding, of the Turkish bus manufacturer Temsa from True Value Capital Partners.
Advent International on the EUR 1.9bn acquisition of Zentiva, a leading pharmaceutical company in CEE.
Mid Europa Partners on the sale of AeskuLab and Alpha Medical businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Unilabs.
Arkance on the acquisition of CAD Studio, a provider of technical support services for autodesk software, from KKCG.
Erste Bank in over ten separate M&A transactions in the region since 1999, including:
- EUR 3.75bn acquisition of a majority shareholding in Banca Comerciala Romana, Romania's largest bank.
- Successful bid and subsequent USD 517m acquisition of Česká spořitelna, a.s., the Czech savings bank (privatisation process), including advising on the re-structuring of the loan portfolio.
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 400m acquisition of Postabank Rt. from the Hungarian State, including a public takeover bid made for the shares of Postabank Rt.
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 160m acquisition of Rijecka banka d.d in Croatia from the Croatian State Agency for Bank Rehabilitation.
- Acquisition of Slovenská sporiťelňa a.s., the Slovak savings bank (privatisation process).
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 149.6m acquisition of 100% of shares in Diners Club Adriatic d.d. in Croatia, one of the leading Croatian credit card companies.
- Acquisition 100% of Bank Prestige in Ukraine.
- Acquisition of Novosadska Banka in Serbia (privatisation process).
- Proposed bid to acquire DSK Bank AD in Bulgaria.
- Proposed bid to acquire Nova Ljubljanska banka, Slovenia.

Memberships & Roles

Member, Victorian Bar Association, Australia
Member, Czech Chamber of Advocates

Education

1991 - Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
1989 - Bachelor of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Helen Rodwell is the Partner and the Head of Corporate and M&A practice at CMS Prague, and Managing Partner of CMS Bratislava.

Relevant experience

A group of investors, led by Partech and including EBRD, Quadrille Capital and J&T Bank, on a EUR 190m fundraising for Rohlik.cz, one of Europe’s leading online grocery businesses.
Zentiva, an Advent International portfolio company, on its acquisition of the CEE business of global generic and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals manufacturer Alvogen.
TPG on the acquisition of the Vector Parks Logistics Centres in Slovakia and Czech Republic from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA).
Cube Infrastructure on the investment into a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), open-access networks for residential, business and public administration in selected areas of the Czech Republic currently under-served by high speed internet networks.
The shareholders in Kiwi.com, one of the most rapidly growing technology companies worldwide, on the sale of a majority stake in the company to General Atlantic.
PPF, the Czech-based financial group, on the acquisition, together with Sabanci Holding, of the Turkish bus manufacturer Temsa from True Value Capital Partners.
Advent International on the EUR 1.9bn acquisition of Zentiva, a leading pharmaceutical company in CEE.
Mid Europa Partners on the sale of AeskuLab and Alpha Medical businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Unilabs.
Arkance on the acquisition of CAD Studio, a provider of technical support services for autodesk software, from KKCG.
Erste Bank in over ten separate M&A transactions in the region since 1999, including:
- EUR 3.75bn acquisition of a majority shareholding in Banca Comerciala Romana, Romania's largest bank.
- Successful bid and subsequent USD 517m acquisition of Česká spořitelna, a.s., the Czech savings bank (privatisation process), including advising on the re-structuring of the loan portfolio.
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 400m acquisition of Postabank Rt. from the Hungarian State, including a public takeover bid made for the shares of Postabank Rt.
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 160m acquisition of Rijecka banka d.d in Croatia from the Croatian State Agency for Bank Rehabilitation.
- Acquisition of Slovenská sporiťelňa a.s., the Slovak savings bank (privatisation process).
- Successful bid and subsequent EUR 149.6m acquisition of 100% of shares in Diners Club Adriatic d.d. in Croatia, one of the leading Croatian credit card companies.
- Acquisition 100% of Bank Prestige in Ukraine.
- Acquisition of Novosadska Banka in Serbia (privatisation process).
- Proposed bid to acquire DSK Bank AD in Bulgaria.
- Proposed bid to acquire Nova Ljubljanska banka, Slovenia.

Memberships & Roles

Member, Victorian Bar Association, Australia
Member, Czech Chamber of Advocates

Education

1991 - Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
1989 - Bachelor of Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Practice Areas

Corporate Corporate/M&A

sectors

Private Equity Insurance

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Helen Rodwell

Head of Corporate and M&A

Languages

Social media

Relevant experience

Memberships & Roles

Education

Relevant experience

Memberships & Roles

Education

Practice Areas

sectors

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