On December 1, 2022, SMM Legal announced that MOL's acquisition of Lotos Paliwa (reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 2, 2022) had closed. Subsequently, Baker McKenzie announced that Orlen Unipetrol's acquisition of Hungarian petrol stations from MOL (reported by CEE Legal Matters on February 1, 2022) had closed as well.
Significant Tax Amendments Made by Law No. 7420
Law No. 7420 has made significant amendments related to tax legislation. These amendments cover: the introduction of a new tax treatment on capital reduction, a time extension for conversion to a currency-protected deposit account, an extension of the deadline for the tax benefits granted to individual participation investors (angel investors), income tax exemption for the portion of the meal costs paid in cash to employees that do not exceed TRY 51, and amendments to the tourism share rates.
Closing: Wirtualna Polska’s Acquisition of Szallas Group Now Closed
On November 30, 2022, the BLS-CEE Law Firm announced that Wirtualna Polska’s acquisition of the Szallas Group from Portfolion Capital Partners and private individuals (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 16, 2022) had closed.
CBRT’s Guidelines on Payment Services
The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye published the Guidelines on Correlating Business Models in the Field of Payments with Payment Service Types (“Guidelines”).
The Guidelines provide detailed explanations as to how payment services regulated under the Law No. 6493 on Payment and Securities Settlement Systems, Payment Services and Electronic Money Institutions (the “Law”) and the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers (the “Regulation”) can be correlated with the business models in the field of payments, in order to ensure compliance with the regulations and uniformity in operating licenses to be granted by the CBRT for authorizations. You can access the Guidelines here.
Baker McKenzie Advises Szechenyi Funds and Lead Ventures on Exit from aiMotive
Baker McKenzie has advised the Szechenyi Funds and Lead Ventures on the sale of their shares in aiMotive to Stellantis in a transaction that saw Stellantis acquire aiMotive. Dentons reportedly advised Stellantis.
BASEAK Advises Ace Games on Playtika’s USD 25 Million Investment
Dentons Turkish affiliate Balcioglu Selcuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership has advised Ace Games on a USD 25 million investment from Playtika. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership reportedly advised Playtika.
Karanovic & Partners Advises Colt Technology Services on Acquisition of Lumen Technologies’ EMEA Business
Karanovic & Partners, working alongside Baker McKenzie, has advised Colt Technology Services on its acquisition of Lumen Technologies’ Europe, Middle East, and Africa business for USD 1.8 billion. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner reportedly advised Lumen Technologies.
Greenberg Traurig and Baker McKenzie Advise on Value4Capital Sale of Kom-Eko to CEE Equity Partners
Greenberg Traurig has advised Value4Capital’s Poland Plus Fund on its sale of Kom-Eko to a CEE Equity Partners fund. Baker McKenzie advised the buyer.
Akol Law and Esin Attorney Partnership Advise on Eczacibasi Acquisition of Gensenta from Amgen
Akol Law has advised EIS Eczacibasi Ilac on its USD 135 million acquisition of Gensenta from the Amgen Group. Baker McKenzie Turkish affiliate Esin Attorney Partnership advised the seller.
Baker McKenzie Advises IFC on Channeling EUR 25 Million in Grants to Ukrainian Cities
Baker McKenzie has advised the IFC on channeling EU funds up to EUR 25 million in grants across Ukrainian cities to help renovate municipal buildings for internally displaced people, create jobs, and drive economic recovery.
The Turkish Tech Universe: Age of Turcorn
In the past few years, Turkey has experienced a veritable tech miracle. A swath of start-ups, primarily in the gaming and e-commerce sectors, has attracted multi-billion-dollar investments and achieved record valuations. Two companies have even reached decacorn status – a valuation of over USD 10 billion.
Baker McKenzie and CMS Advise on Ace 6 Sale of Andrychow Shopping Center to Big Shopping Centers
Baker McKenzie has advised Equilis and Acteeum joint venture Ace 6 on its EUR 40 million sale of the Galeria Andrychow shopping center to Big Shopping Centers. CMS advised the buyer.
Dentons Advises Groupama Gan REIM on Acquisition of Freedom Palace in Budapest
Dentons has advised Groupama Gan REIM on its acquisition of the Freedom Palace in Budapest.
Pawel Hincz and Juliusz Krzyzanowski to Lead Baker McKenzie Healthcare & Life Sciences Transactional and Regulatory
Partner Pawel Hincz and Counsel Juliusz Krzyzanowski have been appointed as Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences M&A and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences Regulatory, respectively, within Baker McKenzie’s Warsaw Office.
Clifford Chance and Baker McKenzie Advise on Sale of Audioteka to Grupa Wirtualna Polska
Clifford Chance has advised Giza Polish Ventures on its sale of a majority stake in Audioteka to Grupa Wirtualna Polska. Baker McKenzie advised the buyer.
Baker McKenzie and CMS Advise on Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna PLN 130 Million Bond Issuance
Baker McKenzie has advised Pelion Group subsidiary Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna on the establishment of its bond issuance program and a PLN 130 million issuance of secured bonds. CMS advised organizer, underwriter, and offering agent Haitong Bank on the issuance.
Baker McKenzie Advises EPH Group on Acquisition of PZEM Wholesale Business and Sloe Power Plant
Baker McKenzie has advised Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding on its acquisition of all shares in the Dutch PZEM Energy Company and PZEM Pipe and 50% of shares in Sloe Centrale Holding from PZEM. NautaDutilh advised PZEM.
DLA Piper and Baker McKenzie Advise on Wirtualna Polska’s Acquisition of Szallas Group
DLA Piper has advised Wirtualna Polska on its acquisition of the Szallas Group from Portfolion Capital Partners and private individuals. Baker McKenzie advised Portfolion.