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Macquarie acquisition of a stake in Smetana Holding wins “Acquisition of the Year - Energy & Natural Resources” award from the Infrastructure Journal

PRAGUE –For its acquisition of a stake in Smetana Holding, Macquarie has been named winner of Acquisition of the Year Energy & Natural Resources “award, at the Infrastructure Journal (IJ) Awards 2014 held in London last Thursday 13 March 2014. Allen & Overy’s team in Prague played a central role in what was a highly complex acquisition, advising Macquarie on all aspects throughout the inter-linked elements of the transaction, a process lasting over 12 months.

Jane Townsend, Prague-based Managing Partner for Central Europe and the lead partner on the transaction, commented: “This was a technically demanding transaction with elements which were unusual in both the Central European market and the European market in general. We were delighted to have the opportunity to play our part in such an innovative transaction and this award is a tremendous achievement for the practice in Prague. There is no higher praise than industry recognition and awards such as this help bolster Allen & Overy’s reputation as the leading player in projects, energy and infrastructure.”

At the IJ awards, Allen & Overy was nominated in all six categories and won Legal Advisor of the Year in four of them: (i) M&A; (ii) Oil & Gas and Mining; (iii) Power; and (iv) Social Infrastructure, Water and Telecoms. We were also awarded the overall Legal Advisor of the Year award.

IJ described our performance as “blowing the competition out of the water. In every region and in every sector, A&O advised on significant and successful deals in 2013. Whether through innovation in developed markets or by establishing new templates in new investment areas, the firm demonstrated its excellence and fully deserves this award”.

Our success at the IJ Awards follows Allen & Overy topping both Dealogic and Infrastructure Journal’s Global Project Finance League Tables, being named Global Law Firm of the Year by Project Finance International and voted Global Law Firm of the Year by readers of Infrastructure Investor.

For further information, please contact Jana Kloudová, jana.kloudova@allenovery.com, on +420 222 107 117+420 222 107 117.

Notes for Editors:

1.    Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5000 people, including some 525 partners, working in 43 offices worldwide.

2.    In this press release ‘Allen & Overy’ means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings.

3.    The term ‘partner’ is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP’s affiliated undertakings.

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