Press Release

Szecskay Attorneys at Law has been presented with the Hungarian Law Firm of the Year award by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR), at the Awards Ceremony held on March 14, 2007 at the Natural History Museum in London.

Based in the United Kingdom, the IFLR is a leading monthly publication covering financial markets worldwide, including international news, analysis of recent transactions and legislative changes. With over 20 years of publication, the IFLR enjoys industry renown for expertise in matters of interest for banks, financial institutions, corporations and law firms.

Each year, the IFLR honors achievement for Law Firms of the Year along with Deals of the Year in eight categories, covering such areas as M&A, project finance and securitization. National law firm awards are presented to firms from 21 countries in Europe, recognizing excellence in the field of international finance.

Szecskay Attorneys at Law has been involved in a number of recent high-profile transactions in Hungary, including:

• advising in sale of the State Privatization Agency’s stake in Budapest Airport Rt., the largest transaction proceeds in Hungarian privatization history and largest British investment ever made in Hungary;
• representation of Láng Kiadó és Holding Rt., one of Hungary’s main printing and publishing holding company, in the course of the privatization of the National Textbook Publishing Company by the State Privatization Agency, and further advising E.G. Capital, with respect to the sale of its shareholding representing 75%-1 in Láng Kiadó és Holding Rt. to Sanoma WSOY (SW Invest B.V.);
• advising E.G. Capital S.A., a former majority shareholder of Állami Nyomda Nyrt. with respect to selling a portion of its shareholding in Állami Nyomda, combined with the introduction of the shares of Állami Nyomda at the Budapest Stock Exchange, which was a first public offering transaction following the implementation of the Prospectus Directive;
• advising HVB Bank Rt. and CA-IB Rt., financial advisors to the State Privatization Agency, in the privatization of Antenna Hungária Rt., the largest broadcasting and transmission company;
• providing advice to J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd. on the Hungarian elements connected to the issue of EUR 750,000,000 senior secured notes by Impress Holdings B.V.; and
• advising an international concern and Hungarian market leader, E.ON in its acquisition of Hungarian operations and connecting regulatory matters in the energy sector.

These and other transactions allowed the firm to earn the distinction of being the IFLR 2007 Law Firm Of The Year - Hungary, thereby joining the ranks of noted previous recipients including respected and well-known global international firms operating in Hungary.

Dr. Andras Szecskay attributes the award to the dedication of the firm's attorneys as well as the expertise and lasting client-relationships resulting from the provision of legal services over the past sixteen years since the foundation of the firm in 1992. He went on to add: "we have had a very successful year, and are very proud to be recognized by our peers for our efforts ".