The mandatory fee-based publication in the print medium of the Official Journal of the Wiener Zeitung (Amtsblatt der Wiener Zeitung) ("Official Journal") is going to be replaced by free-of-charge publication on the new Electronic Announcement and Information Platform of the Federation ("EVI").
Bulgaria: The New Whistleblower Protection Act Enters Into Force
On 4 May 2023 the Bulgarian Act on the protection of persons who report or make public information on breaches ("Whistleblower Protection Act" or "WPA")1 adopted earlier this year enters into force, giving effect to the provisions of Directive (EU) 2019/19372 and imposing a number of obligations on employers in both the public and private sector.
Schoenherr Advises Carrier on Acquisition of EUR 12 Billion Viessmann Climate Solutions
Schoenherr, working alongside Linklaters and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, has advised the Carrier Global Corporation on its acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions. Hengeler Mueller and, reportedly, Davis Polk & Wardwell advised Viessmann Climate Solutions.
Romania: Important Developments in Public Procurement Legislation
The Romanian public and sectoral procurement legislation has recently undergone several important changes aimed at clarifying certain provisions that used to be open to interpretation and/or have given rise to disputes in practice.
DWF and Schoenherr Advise on Sale of Unitrailer Holding Group to Vaalon Capital
DWF has advised the sole shareholder of Unitrailer Holding on the sale of the company to Vaalon Capital. Schoenherr advised Vaalon Capital.
Schoenherr, BPV Grigorescu Stefanica, and BPV Huegel Advise on HS Timber Group’s Sale of HS Timber Productions Sebes to Ziegler Group
Schoenherr has advised HS Timber Group on its sale of HS Timber Productions Sebes to Ziegler Group. BPV Grigorescu Stefanica and BPV Huegel advised the buyer.
MiCar: Final Steps Towards the Legal Framework for Crypto-Assets
On 20 April 2023 the European Parliament ("EP") finally approved the regulation on markets in crypto-assets ("MiCAR"). The approved final text of the MiCAR is yet to be formally endorsed by the Council, but the EP's approval means the biggest legislative hurdle towards the MiCAR entering into force has been cleared. The approval of the MiCAR follows the finalisation of the last details of the text, after a provisional agreement on the final draft compromise was reached during trilogue negotiations in June 2022.
CEELM Deal of the Year Awards Banquet: And the Winner Is...
On the evening of April 25, 2023, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms and ILFs active in the region in Istanbul.
Serbia Adopts Ethics Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence
On 23 March 2023, the Serbian government adopted Ethics Guidelines for the Development, Implementation and Use of Reliable and Responsible AI ("Guidelines"), which may be seen as yet another step in the process of harmonising Serbia's legislative framework with the European Union, following the Proposal for an AI Regulation announced by the EU Commission two years ago.
EU Parliament Approves New Emissions Trading System
On 18 April 2023, the EU Parliament approved the provisional political plan to reduce CO2 emissions in the EU agreed on by the Council and the European Parliament on 18 December 2022. This plan is based on proposals of the "Fit for 55" package presented by the European Commission in 2021 to reduce the EU's net greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Hungary's Brand-new Whistleblowing Regime
On 11 April 2023, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a whistleblower protection act setting aside the previous one first adopted back in 2013.
Schoenherr and BDK Advokati Advise on Adriatic Bank's Acquisition of Expobank
Moravcevic, Vojnovic, and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr has advised the owner of the Adriatic Bank Podgorica on the acquisition of Expobank Belgrade. BDK Advokati advised the shareholders of Expobank Belgrade.
Schoenherr and Wolf Theiss Advises on Erste Group Bank EUR 1 Billion Mortgage Pfandbriefe Issuance
Schoenherr has advised joint lead managers Erste Group Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen Girozentrale, Natixis, and TD Global Finance on Erste Group Bank's EUR 1 billion issuance of 3.125% mortgage Pfandbriefe due October 14, 2027. Wolf Theiss advised Erste.
Schoenherr Advises UBIQ on Series A Financing Round
Schoenherr has advised Austrian shared-mobility start-up UBIQ on its series A financing round.
Green Finance in Hungary 2023
The Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) is encouraging the banking sector to increase the level of green loans. To this end, significantly reduced capital requirements have been put in place when applying for loans, and green company bonds were introduced in summer 2020 as part of the MNB bond funding for growth scheme. The Hungarian government is now ready to intervene to achieve climate neutrality.
Schoenherr Advises Shanghai Electric Power on Acquisition of 100-Megawatt PV Project from Greencells Group
Schoenherr has advised the China-based Shanghai Electric Power Co. Ltd. on its full acquisition of two project companies developing a PV project portfolio with a total capacity of 100 megawatts in Inarcs, near Budapest, from a Greencells Group subsidiary. Erdos Katona reportedly advised the sellers.
Vernon David, Schoenherr, and Filip & Company Advise on Victoriabank Acquisition of BCR’s Chisinau Subsidiary
Vernon David and Filip & Company have advised Moldova's Victoriabank on its acquisition of the Chisinau subsidiary of Banca Comerciala Romana. Schoenherr advised the seller.
Did You Know: 12-Month CEE Energy/Natural Resources Leaderboard
Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, only eleven lawyers in CEE have worked on four or more reported Energy/Natural Resources deals in CEE since March 1, 2022?