Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised key private equity client CVC Capital Partners on the biggest buyout of the year so far.

CVC has agreed a deal worth $2.23bn (£1.36bn) to purchase the Central and Eastern European operations of Anheuser-Busch InBev across nine countries, in one of the largest private equity deals ever carried out in the region. The acquisition will give CVC control of the Staropramen beer brand.

The team at Freshfields was headed up by corporate partner Chris Bown alongside corporate partner Sebastian Lawson. Partners David Winfield and Martin Hutchings advised on finance aspects, while Cologne-based partner Matthias Koch handled intellectual property and David Aitman worked on competition.

AB InBev turned to panel firm Clifford Chance for advice with corporate partners Rob Crothers and Amy Mahon leading the magic circle firm's team.

Bown commented: 'We are delighted to have advised CVC on the firm's first investment in Central and Eastern Europe.

The agreement, which is expected to be completed by January 2010, will see CVC acquire the brewing giant's operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia.

The buyout house also has the rights to brew and distribute AB InBev's brands such as Stella Artois, Hoergaarden and Leffe in the region. AB InBev has retained the brewing and distributions rights of Staropramen in Ukraine, the UK and the US, among others.

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