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JŠK successfully represented Bunzl on the acquisition of VM Footwear

Bunzl plc was incorporated in 1940 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1957, but its origins date back to 1854 when Moritz Bunzl opened a small haberdashery business in Bratislava. The business has changed and grown considerably over the years through its successful acquisition strategy, with the company announcing almost 200 acquisitions since 2004, becoming a well recognised FTSE 100 listed international distribution and services group in the process. Bunzl provides a one-stop-shop, on-time and in-full specialist distribution service across more than 30 countries, supplying a broad range of internationally and responsibly sourced non-food products to a variety of market sectors. Its purpose is to deliver essential business solutions around the world and create long-term sustainable value for the benefit of all stakeholders.

VM Footwear s.r.o. was founded in 2003 by a sole owner with purely Czech capital. Since its establishment, the company has been engaged in the development, import and distribution of personal protective and work equipment. In 2008 it expanded its operations to Slovakia by building a sales network, since 2016 it has been successfully exporting to the CEE region and in recent years it has been exporting to Western EU countries. 

  “We’re delighted to welcome Vítězslav and the wider VM Footwear team to the Bunzl family and look forward to working with them to develop the business further in the future. On behalf of the Bunzl team I’d like to thank Tomáš, Helena and Patrik for their work on the transaction,” Nicolas Ingram, Managing Director of Bunzl Central and Eastern Europe said.

The transaction team was led on the buyer's side by JŠK partner Tomáš Doležil in cooperation with senior associates Helena Hailichová and Patrik Müller. The seller was represented by HKR advokátní kancelář, s.r.o.

"Pleased to assist the client with another Czech transaction that demonstrates Bunzl’s commitment to the Czech market. " Tomáš Doležil said.

About JŠK

JŠK is a mid-sized law firm providing services for clients in all areas of commercial law, especially in M&A, banking & finance, insurance, construction, real estate and energy. The firm has been operating in the Czech market for more than 18 years, and its clients include respected banks, insurance companies, private equity funds, and multinational corporations, as well as mid-sized companies and individual investors.

JŠK is a member of PONTES, a unique network of similarly specialised law firms, which includes firms from Central and Eastern Europe. PONTES members currently operate in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Vienna and Warsaw.