As early as November 2018, the Austrian government announced that it planned to develop a hydrogen strategy. But the Austrian energy sector had been left waiting ever since the formal kick-off in March 2019. In the meantime, the EU and several member states presented their hydrogen strategies. Finally, on June 2, 2022, the Austrian government revealed its own plan of action.
W&I Insurance On The Rise in CEE: An Interview with Gergely Juhasz of RFB Consulting
Last year has been a busy time in terms of warranty & indemnity insurance for the CEE market, according to W&I Insurance Broker and Advisor and former M&A lawyer Gergely Juhasz.
Christoph Lejsek and Florian Sagmeister Make Partner at E+H
E+H has announced that Christoph Lejsek and Florian Sagmeister have been promoted to Partner on July 1, 2022.
Wolf Theiss, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Advise on Raiffeisen Bank Romania's Senior Non-Preferred Sustainability Notes Issue
Wolf Theiss, working with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has advised Raiffeisen Bank S.A. on its issue of RON 500,850,000 Senior Non-Preferred Eligible Sustainability Notes. Clifford Chance advised the joint lead managers.
Schoenherr and Brandl Talos Advise on Ancla Logistik’s Merger with Logsta
Schoenherr, working with WSS Redpoint, has advised Ancla Logistik on its merger with Logsta and the simultaneous conversion of existing revenue-based venture debt provided by Round2 Capital to Logsta. Brandl Talos, working with Ypog advised Logsta. Herbst Kinsky reportedly advised Round2 Capital.
BPV Huegel Advises Weilburg Family Office on Launching Private Equity Module
BPV Huegel has advised investment manager Weilburg Family Office on its launch of a private equity module.
Austria Staying the Course: A Buzz Interview with Herbert Hildenbrandt of BMA Law & Tax
A strong flow of legislative updates, a number of active business sectors, and the upcoming presidential election in the fall – this is what’s in the cards for Austria, according to BMA Law & Tax Attorney at Law Herbert Hildenbrandt.
E+H Advises IFM GIF on Increasing Stake in Vienna Airport
E+H has advised IFM Global Infrastructure Fund's indirect subsidiary Airports Group Europe on a partial voluntary public offer to increase its stake in Flughafen Wien Aktiengesellschaft to over 40%.
Schoenherr Advises Kontron on Sale of Divisions Within IT Services Business for EUR 400 Million
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.
E+H and BKP Advise on Zeta and Buehler Joint Venture
E+H has advised Zeta Holding on establishing the Eridia joint venture with Buehler. Brauneis Klauser Praendl advised Buehler on the deal.
Katja Tautscher Joins OMV as General Counsel
Former Borealis Chief Legal and Compliance Officer Katja Tautscher has joined OMV AG as Senior Vice President / General Counsel in Vienna.
E+H and SCWP Schindhelm Advise on KanAm Grund Group's Acquisition of Cross Dock Upper Austria Logistics Property
E+H has advised German real estate investor KanAm Grund Group on the purchase of the last-mile logistics hall Cross Dock Upper Austria in Enns near Linz from the Meir Immobilien Group. SCWP Schindhelm advised the sellers on the deal.
Herbst Kinsky Advises Helu.io on USD 10 Million Series A
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.
Austria: No More Mandatory Quarantine. What Should Employers Know?
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").
FDI Screening in Austria
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.
Brandl Talos Helps Kiprion on Virtual Currency Service Provider Registration in Austria
Brandl Talos has advised Kiprion on registering as a virtual currency service provider before the Austrian Financial Market Authority.
ESG Talks: M&A Trends and the Future of Due Diligence – A CEE Legal Matters Round Table
On July 7, four leading lawyers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the increasing prominence of ESG issues and their impact on M&A transactions, due diligence procedures, and the role of the lawyers themselves.
Austria: (Still) A Long Way to a Green Bond Standard
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.