Travers Smith LLP has advised the senior management team of Zabka Polska SA, the leading convenience retailer in Poland, on its sale by Mid Europa Partners to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners.

The transaction signed on 21 February and is subject to customary competition authority clearance.  It is expected to close in Q2 2017.  The transaction value is confidential but the sale is widely reported as being the largest ever transaction in the Polish food retail sector and the largest ever private equity exit in Poland.

Founded in 1998, Zabka has grown from a single convenience store in Poznan to a country wide network of c.4,500 stores, all operated by c.3,000 franchisees.

The Travers Smith team was led by senior partner Chris Hale, who was supported by corporate associates Jeremy Dennison and James Sherlock.

Other legal advisers on the transaction included White & Case LLP (London) and CMS Cameron McKenna (Poland), who acted for Mid Europa Partners, and Greenberg Traurig (London), who advised CVC Capital Partners.