Dentons advised AmRest in its acquisition of Starbucks franchise in Romania and Bulgaria

Dentons assisted AmRest in acquiring the two Starbucks franchises in Romania and Bulgaria. For AmRest this acquisition is the entryway into the Romanian market – the second in size in Central Europe - and will strengthen its leadership position in the region. AmRest will now operate 18 Starbucks coffee shops in Romania, and 5 in Bulgaria. The transaction is valued at approximately €16 million. The Dentons team was led by partner Perry Zizzi, who managed the transaction for both the Romanian and the Bulgarian businesses. Managing Counsel, Bogdan Bunrau, assisted. Commenting on the transaction, Zizzi says “It is not often that one gets the opportunity to advise on a transaction involving such a beloved brand. We are proud to have supported AmRest on this cross-border transaction and look forward to seeing a Starbucks on every corner.” AmRest Holdings SE is the largest independent chain restaurant operator in Central and Eastern Europe, owning the KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Starbucks franchises, as well as proprietary brands of La Tagliatella, Blue Frog and Kabb. The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, with a market capitalization of €734 million and a turnover of approx. €180 million, after the first quarter of 2015.