History
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1994 | 1993 | 1991
2008
In May 2008, WOOD & Co acted as Co-Lead Manager and Czech Lead Manager of NWR’s IPO on the LSE, PSE, and WSE. NWR is a producer of high quality coking and thermal coal for the steel and energy sectors. The GBP 1.3 billion offering was the biggest LSE IPO in 2008 to date and the biggest-ever IPO on the PSE.
WOOD & Co acted as the Sole Financial Adviser, mandated by Warburg Pincus, in a successful consolidation play on the Czech and Slovak web portal markets. In the first key step, WOOD & Co advised Warburg Pincus on its acquisition of a majority stake in Centrum CZ Holdings B.V., which operates Centrum.cz, the second largest portal in the Czech Republic, and Centrum.sk, the leading Slovak web portal. In the second key step, Warburg Pincus, advised by WOOD & Co, acquired a 100% stake in Atlas.cz a.s., the third largest portal in the Czech Republic and Atlas.sk a.s., the leading Slovak web portal.
2007
In 2007, WOOD & Co executed its first and to date largest merchant banking deal when we assisted in the creation of Window Holding Limited by joining two leading Czech window manufacturing companies, Vekra and Otherm.
In June 2007, the partners and shareholders of WOOD & Co sold a 50% stake in WOOD Group to Nordic investment bank Straumur Burdaras. Straumur is Iceland’s largest investment bank, listed on the Iceland Stock Exchange, and offers a complete range of integrated investment banking services, including capital markets, corporate finance, debt finance, and asset management services.
In May 2007, WOOD & Co opened an office in Bucharest and executed its first ever transaction in Romania when we became the Sole Financial Adviser for Impact Developer & Contractor on a capital increase of EUR 46 million. We were also was the Sole Financial Adviser to the vendor when the major shareholder of Impact sold EUR 9.6 million of equity in the company to Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners.
In April 2007, WOOD & Co became an exclusive member of M &A International (MAI) for the Czech and Slovak Republics. MAI is the world’s leading alliance of mid-market merger & acquisition specialist with over 500 professional advisors in 41 member firms in 39 countries. To find out more about MAI, visit http://www.mergers.net/ .
2006
In 2006 Wood & Company focused on expanding its trading activities in other Central and Eastern European countries, mainly in rapidly-growing Poland and Hungary. In Warsaw, we managed to boost our market share from 0.3% to 0.9%, partly thanks to the dual listing of shares of energy company CEZ, the region's largest listed stock. In Hungary, our position strengthened even more significantly. For the entire year, we executed 2.8% of overall trades compared to just 0.8% in the previous year. Despite a major change in the way of trade calculation on the Prague Stock Exchange (when all large brokers saw their numbers falling sharply) we managed to post flat trading volumes for the year, driven by a sharp increase in trading abroad (the volume outside of the Czech Republic quadrupled). By the end of 2006, we were members of the stock exchange in Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Vienna, and Xtra Frankfurt, and planned to become members in Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovenia.
2005
WOOD & Co executed several landmark transactions for the Czech capital market such as the largest ever mandatory buyout for the shares of Český Telecom, the largest ever block trade with Zentiva shares and the largest ever bond issue for a Czech private company, SMVaK. WOOD & Co also expanded its regional reach and became a member of the Frankfurt, Warsaw and Budapest stock exchanges and maintained its dominant position in equity trading on the Prague Stock Exchange by achieving a market share of 23%.
2004
WOOD & Co finished the year with a tremendous 21% marke share on the Prague Stock Exchange and became a member of the Vienna Stock Exchange mainly to offer its domestic clients access to Western European markets. Euromoney again recognized WOOD & Company as the Best Equity House in the Czech Republic.
2003
WOOD & Company further strengthened its position on the Prague Stock Exchange by increasing its market share to 23%. Its leading position on the Czech capital market was again recognized by Euromoney magazine.
2002
WOOD & Company opened an office in Bratislava with the aim of participating in privatization projects in Slovakia and providing M&A advisory services to local corporate clientele. WOOD & Company strengthened its position on the Prague Stock Exchange by increasing its market share to 21%. Its dominant position on the market was again recognized by Euromoney magazine.
2001
Most satellite offices closed in a strategic reorganization that refocused the firm's efforts on its best established businesses in Prague and Bratislava.
1998
Wood & Co. shareholders swapped their 50% stake in WoodCommerz for Commerzbank's stake in Wood & Company
1997
The Budapest office was opened.
1996
The Ukraine office was opened. Commerzbank acquired a 25% stake in Wood & Co., and the two companies entered into an equal partnership to form WoodCommerz, a regional bond business.
