Kinstellar, working with Luxembourg-based Brouxel & Rabia, has advised Genesis Growth Equity Fund I on the acquisition of a majority stake in LLP Group from Adam Bager, Tim Smulders, Barbara Dreska, and Jiri Stiller. Wolf Theiss, working with Ashurst, advised the sellers.

The Austrian Supreme Court (6 Ob 224/23v) recently determined the requirements for a partial transfer of a share if the articles of association expressly stipulate that shares cannot be divided.

Wolf Theiss has advised Nokian Tyres on a virtual power purchase agreement with Enery. Schoenherr advised Enery.

Several amendments to pharmaceutical promotional laws in Hungary came into effect on 1 January 2025, with others following on 1 February 2025. Some of these amendments have long been urged by the pharmaceutical industry.

Wolf Theiss has advised Erste Group Bank on the successful issuance of EUR 750 million fixed to floating rate green preferred senior notes due 2033. CMS, working with Linklaters, advised the international banking syndicate working on the issuance including Danske Bank, Erste Group, Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen, Societe Generale, and TD Global Finance.

SSW Pragmatic Solutions has advised Eika Asset Management on an agreement with Panattoni for the planned development of a 28,000-square-meter logistics building in Sochaczew, Poland. Wolf Theiss reportedly advised Panattoni.

With the amendments to the Companies Act (the “Act”), which entered into force on 5 December 2024, Croatia has implemented EU Directive (EU) 2022/2381 on gender balance on corporate boards of listed companies (the “Directive”). The so called “Women on Boards” Directive aims to ensure that at least 40% of non-executive board seats or 33% of all board seats for listed companies are occupied by the “underrepresented sex” by the end of June 2026.

Employers often find themselves contemplating whether they should disclose the reasons for an employee’s termination to the entire workforce. While the motivations behind this consideration can be well-intentioned – such as educating remaining employees about unacceptable behaviors, promoting transparency, and preventing the spread of misinformation, there are legal implications to take into account.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

Companies will have an additional year to comply with new EU rules aimed at preventing deforestation, which will prohibit the sale of products in the EU that originate from deforested land
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have decided to postpone the application of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by one year, now taking effect on 30 December 2025 instead of the original 2024 deadline. The decision comes in response to concerns raised by EU member states and stakeholders about the feasibility of meeting the requirements within the initial timeframe.

Labor shortages have emerged as a pressing issue across CEE, prompting diverse responses from governments, businesses, and the public as they navigate the challenges of workforce gaps and economic sustainability.

A set of two measures aimed at reducing state subsidies for renewable energy sources has been approved by the lower house of Parliament in the Czech Republic on 11 December 2024. These changes, proposed through amendments to the Act on Promoted Sources (the “RES Act”) and the Energy Act, specifically target solar power plants with a capacity of more than 30 kW that were connected in 2009 and 2010.

Wolf Theiss has advised Strabag Property and Facility Services on its acquisition of B2 Assets from Dusan Bocek. Dolezal & Partners advised the seller.

Wolf Theiss has advised Posella Limited and Pale Fire Capital on their acquisition of Fly.pl from Grzegorz Bosowski.

Wolf Theiss has advised Banca Comerciala Romana on a EUR 29.5 million credit facility granted to Unirii View. Tuca, Zbarcea & Associates advised Unirii View.

The Romanian Company Law no. 31/1990 has been amended through the recent Law no. 299/2024 to better align with technological developments and the evolving needs of the business landscape. Notably, a key update is enabling remote (online) attendance and electronic voting in general shareholder meetings, among other relevant revisions.

On December 6, 2024, Kinstellar announced that UEG's acquisition of the 250-megawatt Simeonovgrad-Polyanovo PV project (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 10, 2024) has now closed.

Factoring has emerged as an essential financial solution for businesses in Hungary, offering a fast and flexible way to maintain cash flow and bridge liquidity gaps, especially for those with extended payment terms in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and logistics. However, navigating Hungary’s complex regulatory landscape can pose challenges for companies seeking to use factoring to its fullest potential. With options like silent factoring available to help preserve client relationships and a need for thorough understanding of local laws, businesses can benefit significantly from a strategic approach. This article explores the advantages of factoring in Hungary, along with key regulatory considerations to ensure compliance and stability in companies’ financial operations.