Montenegro does not have a foreign investment screening regime comparable to those emerging now in European Union in light of the EU FDI Screening Regulation. It operates a sector-specific authorisation system covering the defence sector.

North Macedonia does not have a foreign investment screening regime comparable to those now emerging in the European Union in light of the EU FDI Screening Regulation, but operates a single-sector authorisation system specifically covering the defence sector. Additionally, there is mandatory registration of all direct investments made by non-residents.

Schoenherr, working with Pinsent Masons and Wenger Vieli, has advised Kontron on selling parts of Kontron Group’s IT services business to Vinci Energies during a competitive auction process, for approximately EUR 400 million. Reportedly, Baker McKenzie’s German office advised Vinci Energies. Loloci & Associates advised Kontron on Albanian matters.

 This article provides an up-to-date overview of the currently existing FDI regimes in Moldova.

 This article provides an up-to-date overview of the currently existing FDI regimes in Poland.

Hungary has ended the state monopoly on the online sports betting market and this now makes way for the market entry of operators incorporated in the European Economic Area (EEA) ("EEA Operators").

New FDI legislation entered into force on 1 May 2021. It introduced a mandatory, suspensory, pre-closing notification obligation for acquisitions of "effective control" over companies active in the Czech Republic in industries deemed capable of threatening the security of the Czech Republic and internal or public order by parties resident outside the European Union, or whose ultimate controlling parent is resident outside the European Union.

New tool or burden?

Herbst Kinsky has advised Helu.io on its USD 10 million Series A financing round led by CommerzVentures, with the participation of Iris Capital and early-stage investor Speedinvest.

This article provides an up-to-date overview of the currently existing FDI regimes in Croatia.

New Covid regulations are in effect from 1 August 2022, raising many questions for employers. The biggest changes are that quarantine for SARS-COV-2 infected persons is no longer mandatory according to Austrian law and the reinstatement of the risk group exemption ("Risikogruppenfreistellung").

Schoenherr Head of Banking & Finance in the Czech Republic Ondrej Havlicek has been promoted to a Local Partner with the firm’s Czech office.

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a foreign investment screening regime comparable to those now emerging in the European Union in light of the EU FDI Screening Regulation. However, it operates an authorisation system covering the defence and media sectors.

FDI screening was for a long time a blank spot on the regulatory landscape for most countries in Central Eastern Europe (CEE). Unlike Western European Member States, relatively few countries in Central Eastern Europe had instruments to vet foreign investments and those that did exist often were of little practical consequence.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised Unicredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, and United Bulgarian Bank on their approximately EUR 160 million financing for Maxcom, Chipolino, and Maxbike.

Even though the Austrian green bond market has not been very active, issuers like Uniqa, Hypo Noe, Verbund, and the Republic of Austria have taken the first steps toward the new asset class. The main feature of such bonds is the intention and/or commitment to invest the proceeds of the issue in green projects. Most issuers initially established stand-alone green bond frameworks based on voluntarily applied market standards. An Austrian green bond standard has not yet been developed. Frameworks used in Austria are usually based on published guidelines, like the International Capital Market Association's (ICMA) Green Bond Principles. Issuers do consider the upcoming standards of the European Union, too – particularly, the EU Green Bond Standards (EUGBS) and the so-called EU Taxonomy.

Schoenherr has advised Red Bull on the establishment of a joint venture with Van Deer-Red Bull Sports Equipment founding shareholders Marcel Hirscher and Dominic Tritscher and the subsequent acquisition of Augment Ski by Van Deer-Red Bull Sports Equipment.

The numerous political, economic and social uncertainties of the last period, coupled with a significant increase in the prices of consumer goods, have led the Romanian Government to amend the existing legal framework and to regulate the commercial behaviour of companies in a stricter manner, aiming to combat potential speculative actions, but also unfair competition practices.