As the regulatory landscape for crypto-assets undergoes a significant transformation with the European Union's implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), attention turns to the preparatory steps entities must take to comply with these new standards.

Did you know that the early 2024 deal leaderboards are already available via the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website?

Until recently, Bulgaria was one of the few remaining EU countries not to have adopted a foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime. However, this was set to change with the introduction of a bill in late June 2023 to amend the Investment Promotion Act. This amendment implements the screening mechanism outlined in Regulation (EU) 2019/452 (the "EU FDI Screening Regulation").

Schoenherr has advised Polish renewable energy solution provider Sunex on the accelerated bookbuilding process and sale of 2 million shares – 9.86% of the company's share capital – by its shareholder.

Schoenherr has advised the Erste Group Bank on a EUR 300 million share buyback followed by a cancellation of treasury shares and the reduction of its share capital.

Schoenherr has advised Enery on its ten-year virtual cross-border power purchase agreement with Asahi Europe & International's Dreher Breweries in Hungary.

DWF has advised the Avallon MBO fund on the full sale of Marketplanet to the Byggfakta Group. Schoenherr advised Byggfakta on the acquisition.

Harrisons, Maric & Co, Lambadarios, and Wolf Theiss, working with Linklaters, have advised a banking consortium led by UniCredit Bank London on the United Group's EUR 1.7 billion issuance of four tranches of senior secured and PIK notes as well as on the increase and extension of its EUR 410 million revolving credit facility. Selih & Partnerji, working with Paul Weiss, advised the United Group. Schoenherr, Koutalidis, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, and Elvinger Hoss Prussen reportedly advised the United Group as well.

Did you know that, using the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, you can look up the 2023 deal leaderboards in each CEE market, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia?

Gabor Pazsitka has joined Schonherr's Budapest office as a Partner and the Head of the firm's local Banking & Finance practice.

Schoenherr has advised CEE private equity fund Avallon MBO on the sale of beverage producer Wosana to Japan's DyDo Group Holdings. Squire Patton Boggs reportedly advised the buyer.

Dentons, Binder Groesswang, and Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov have advised UniCredit Bulbank and the EBRD on the financing for Enery Development's construction and operation of a large-scale solar plant in north-eastern Bulgaria set to add 112.5 megawatts of solar power generation to the country's electricity system. Schoenherr reportedly advised Enery Development.

Most of us have likely encountered a situation where we bought our favourite chocolate at the grocery store, only to be surprised upon opening it at home to find that the size and weight of the chocolate had decreased, while the packaging and price remained unchanged.

Did you know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, a total of twenty law firms and seventeen individual lawyers worked on five or more reported Romanian client matters in 2023? 

Exciting developments are on the horizon for the Romanian banking community, as efforts are underway to streamline the framework regulating outsourcing arrangements.

Effective 1 January 2024, the Czech Energy Act (No. 458/2000 Coll.; "EA") mandates notification to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for both direct and indirect acquisitions of elements of energy critical infrastructure. The parties will be under a standstill obligation until the transaction is cleared. Notably, the triggering event is set to 10 % of shares or voting rights or even lower. Let's take a closer look at the new transaction review feature.

Binder Groesswang has advised Lucky-Car on the acquisition of the Austrian business of ATU Auto-Teile-Unger. Schoenherr and Fokus advised ATU. Bodmann reportedly advised Lucky-Car as well.

On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament passed Act C of 2021 on Land Registration that was supposed to enter into force on 1 February 2023. As this deadline neared, it became evident that neither private citizens, companies, lawyers nor authorities were adequately prepared for the change.