Schoenherr Romania has helped dairy producer Covalact SA annul a competition fine in litigation proceedings.

The new year ushered in a new era for drone users in Hungary. On 1 January 2021, new regulations entered into force, introducing a new framework for drone usage, although many details remain unregulated. A significant part of the drone regulations is set forth on the EU level by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/947. The new rules in Hungary promote the proper implementation of the relevant EU Regulations, and in some instances prescribe even stricter rules for drone users.

The Digital Markets Act proposal (DMA) is a collection of complex obligations imposed on certain digital service providers. We previously described the salient features of the DMA here. In this article we focus on the definition and designation of gatekeepers, the powers of the EC compared to Member States and the potential effects of the DMA initiative within CEE.

As of 1 January 2021, Bulgaria's Commission for the Protection of Competition (the "CPC") will be available for pre-notification discussions. To this end, it has also published bylaws ("Rules") for such contacts (adopted by CPC decision 1005/10 December 2020).

D’Ornano Partners has advised the Groupama Group on its acquisition of the entire share capital of OTP Osiguranje, an insurance company owned by the OTP Bank in Croatia. Ivekovic Attorneys at Law reportedly acted as local advisors to Groupama. Schoenherr’s Hungarian office reportedly advised the seller on the deal. 

Schoenherr's Budapest office has helped BOE, a subsidiary of Austria's List Group, conclude a management agreement to manage the Vorosmarty Garage in Budapest. 

The fast-paced changes brought about by digital technologies continuously challenge the slow-moving legal framework of the European Union. The European Commission (EC) has long grappled with the ever-evolving practices of tech-companies. Some players, spawned from garages and dorm rooms not long ago, are now entrenched gatekeepers and generate issues enforcers simply lack tools to deal with.

Schoenherr's Prague office has advised Beijer Ref AG on the acquisition of a majority stake in Czech Sinclair Global Group s.r.o. from private individuals Ivo Nespor, Vladimir Pakosta, and Zdenek Cizek. Novalia advised the sellers on the deal.

The Czech Competition Authority (CCA) announced in a press release that it had imposed a fine of CZK 32m (approximately EUR 1.2m) on the Czech retail chain HRUŠKA, spol. s.r.o., for an alleged abuse of significant market power. The decision is not final and an appeal has been filed.

Schoenherr has advised UBS Europe SE on the sale of its onshore wealth management business in Austria to LGT Bank AG. The transaction remains subject to competition authority clearance.

On 16 December the Bulgarian Council of Ministers adopted a Decree amending the local Ordinance for exercising the right of access to medical care. It concerns medical activities covered by the National Health Insurance Fund. This is the first attempt at national legislation regulating electronic referrals and prescriptions.

The Hungarian Competition Authority ('HCA') was less active in abuse of significant market power cases in the past years, but the outcome of the competition supervision proceedings recently conducted against Spar Magyarország Kereskedelmi kft. ("Spar") leads to a forward-looking solution unprecedented in such cases so far: the supermarket chain will develop a new regional supply system as a proactive reparation for the infringement. The programme with a budget of HUF 1,7 billion will not only improve small producers' sales opportunities but will also create new jobs.

Schoenherr has advised Switzerland-based technology company ABB on the sale of its plant in Ozd, Hungary, to wellness equipment producer Wellis, which was advised by Deloitte Legal.

Operators of essential services are required to notify CERT-RO - the national competent authority for security of networks and information systems - for registration in the Register of operators of essential services by 17 December 2020. Otherwise, these companies risk fines of, in some cases; up to 5% of their turnover.

The Hungarian Parliament has adopted new rules reforming the 2018 civil procedural rules as of 1 January 2021.

Binder Groesswang has advised OBB-Technische Services on the establishment of a joint venture with Voestalpine Stahl for the purpose of freight wagon production. Schoenherr’s multi-office team advised the co-venturer on the deal. Gleiss Lutz reportedly acted as a local advisor in Germany to Voestalpine.

Schoenherr and Clifford Chance have advised Hypo Vorarlberg on the synthetic securitization of a EUR 330 million portfolio of loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, corporate borrowers, or certain private individuals, which was provided by the European Investment Fund and European Investment Bank. Linklaters advised the EIF and EIB on the deal.

Schoenherr has advised Allianz-Tiriac on the acquisition of Gothaer Asigurari Reasigurari from the Gothaer Group. Hogan Lovells advised the Gothaer Group on the transaction.