Gift cards have become more and more popular. They are bought as presents and some shops have a return policy where items bought physically can be exchanged only for a gift card of the equivalent amount. Are gift cards therefore to be regarded as money in Poland? If so, are the issuers required to obtain authorisation as a payment or electronic money institution?

Allen & Overy has advised MS Galleon on its EUR 440 million investment loan facility from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and the related Barlinek company on a EUR 100 million general loan facility provided by BGK, Bank Pekao, and PKO Bank Polski. Norton Rose Fulbright reportedly advised the banks.

Allen & Overy has represented the Stock Spirits Group in merger control proceedings before the Polish Competition Authority for the acquisition of Polmos Bielsko-Niala.

Pawel Mruk-Zawirski and Lukasz Walczyna have taken over the leadership of the Financial Regulatory practice and the Debt Capital Markets practice, respectively, in Allen & Overy’s Warsaw office.

During the Three Seas Initiative annual general meeting in Bucharest in September 2023, Austria's Dorda, Bulgaria's Boyanov & Co., Croatia's Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, the Czech Republic's Kocian Solc Balastik, Estonia's Ellex Raidla, Hungary's Lakatos Koves & Partners, Latvia's Ellex Klavins, Lithuania's Ellex Valiunas, Poland's Wardynski and Partners, Romania's Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, Slovakia's Barger Prekop, and Slovenia's Selih & Partnerji announced they formed the Three Seas Legal Alliance, in recognition of the progress made by the Three Seas Initiative.

Former Alto Partner Piotr Orczykowski has joined DZP Domanski Zakrzewski Palinka as a Partner alongside a five-person team.

DWF has announced that former Mostostal Warszawa Legal Department Director Marcin Bisikiewicz will soon be joining the firm's Dispute Resolution and Arbitration department in Poland as a Partner.

Former Path Law Hatylak Kielian i Wspolnicy Partners Tomasz Hatylak, Sergiusz Kielian, and Dominika Mizielinska have joined Baker Tilly Legal Poland in September 2023 together with their 12-member team.

White & Case has advised arranger and dealer mBank on Archicom's M7/2023 series bond issuance under the real estate developer's up to PLN 350 million bond issuance program.

Clifford Chance has advised AHP Investments on the sale of a majority stake in the American Heart of Poland medical network to Gruppo San Donato in partnership with GKSD. Dentons advised the target. Rymarz Zdort Maruta advised the buyers.

Clifford Chance has advised KKCG Group's Technology pillar on the complete refinancing of its existing bank indebtedness and the further recapitalization of its members, including those in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Poland, and Serbia.

Allen & Overy announced that Dan Cocker has retired from the firm in August 2023, after spending more than 20 years with the team.

Gide has advised Investindustrial portfolio company Farmaceutici Procemsa on its acquisition of a majority stake in Poland's Master Pharm.

JDP Drapala & Partners has advised Trei Real Estate Poland on its EUR 73.5 million loan from Deutsche Pfandbriefbank to finance its current activities and day-to-day operations.

Gide has advised the Enterprise Investors Fund IX on its minority investment in Polish precision radar and anti-drone systems company Advanced Protection Systems Inc. Baker McKenzie advised APS and its shareholders.

Greenberg Traurig has advised the PCF Group on its public offering of new shares addressed to Polish and international investors. 

DWF has advised Enter Air Group on a EUR 25 million financing from a consortium including facility agent Bank Pekao and security agent mBank. Kycia Legal advised the banks.

Baker McKenzie has advised Innova Capital on the facilities agreement with mBank and BNP Paribas Bank Polska to support the fund’s investment in R-GOL. CMS reportedly advised the banks.