The venture capital team of HAVEL & PARTNERS provided comprehensive legal services (in particular in transactional law, competition law, and technology law) to the Hungarian investment fund PortfoLion Capital Partners as the lead investor in the Slovak company GymBeam. The value of the investment was EUR 30 million (approximately CZK 725 million).

This is one of the largest venture capital investments in the history of Slovakia and likely the single largest startup investment in the Czech-Slovak region this year.

GymBeam is one of Europe’s leading companies in the field of fitness and sports nutrition, operating across a number of European markets.

PortfoLion Capital Partners is a major Hungarian venture capital and private equity investor focused on financing rapidly growing technology startups and innovative companies in central and eastern Europe.

The legal advisory was led by partner Jaroslav Baier, with significant support from senior associate Peter Košecký. The transaction team also included managing associate Dušan Valent (competition law advice) and associates Petra Kováčechová and Martina Rievajová (technology matters).

Given the size and structure of the investment, the transaction was extensive and involved legal and financial advisors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom, many with global reach.

The investment round was carried out with the participation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as a co-investor. The founder and CEO Dalibor Cicman remains the key figure of GymBeam, continuing to lead the company after the investment.

GymBeam will use the new capital to further develop the company, especially to accelerate its growth in western European markets.

We wish GymBeam continued success in its business development and the investors a high return on their investment.