The Government Decree on the winter administrative break is out. Here’s what to expect.

Wolf Theiss has advised UniCredit Bank Austria, CaixaBank, La Banque Postale, and Bondholders SL on a EUR 113 million syndicated financing for RML Infrastruktur for the roll-out, operation, and maintenance of an open-access fiber-to-the-home network in Austria's Liezen district. PHH reportedly advised Meridiam.

Wolf Theiss has advised the JP Hospitality Investors Club on a hotel lease agreement with Treasurests Hospitality. Suppan Spiegl Zeller reportedly advised Treasurests Hospitality.

On 11 July 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published a public statement (“ESMA Statement”) regarding sustainability-related disclosure requirements in prospectuses for both equity and non-equity securities.

Schoenherr has advised Greiner Group member Neveon Holding on the sale of its automotive division consisting of Greiner Perfoam and its subsidiaries to Treves. Wolf Theiss advised Treves.

Although the deadline for transposing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the Whistleblowing Directive) into national law passed on 17 December 2021, the Czech Republic has been among those Member States struggling to adopt a corresponding act into local legislation. Nonetheless, after turbulent discussions and legislative proposals, the bill has finally been passed and came into force on 1 August 2023.

Binder Groesswang, working with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, has advised French investment company Wendel and other shareholders on their sale of Constantia Flexibles to One Rock Capital Partners. Wolf Theiss, working with Latham & Watkins, advised One Rock. Hamburg's Klawitter Neben Plath Zintler reportedly advised Wendel as well.

The upcoming parliamentary elections at the end of September are the talk of the town in Slovakia, with a slew of interesting legislative changes – including those covering whistleblowing, corporate restructurings, and construction – coming in before the buzzer, according to Wolf Theiss Managing Partner Katarina Matulnikova.

Wolf Theiss has advised Convera on the acquisition of parts of the Austrian business of Western Union.

By 25 June 2023, the transitional provisions of the Collective Redress Directive should have been applicable throughout the EU. Austria – like several other EU Member States – did not meet this deadline. The following article deals with potential transposition options, for the Collective Redress Directive, by the Austrian legislator.

Did You Know that a total of 14 partners at Bulgarian law firms have worked on multiple client matters in that country so far this year? That group is led by Boris Teknedzhiev of Tokushev & Partners, who has worked on five reported Bulgarian client matters in 2023.

The Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 on Foreign Subsidies Distorting the Internal Market (FSR) formally entered into force on 12 January 2023, but the regime did not apply until 12 July 2023. On the same day, the respective Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1441 was published in the Official Journal.

Wolf Theiss has advised joint lead managers and bookrunners Raiffeisen Bank International and MM Warburg on the subscription and placement of UBM Development's EUR 50 million issuance of 7% green bonds. DLA Piper advised the issuer.

Boyanov & Co has advised Borealis on the Bulgarian aspects of the sale of its indirect shareholding in Neochim to Agrofert. Wolf Theiss advised Agrofert.

Wolf Theiss has advised Bain Capital Special Situations on the acquisition of an approximately 20% stake in Intel’s IMS Nanofabrication business, as part of a transaction that values IMS at approximately USD 4.3 billion. Hogan Lovells reportedly advised Intel.

Schoenherr has advised the joint lead managers on Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark’s EUR 500 million issuance of mortgage-covered bonds. Wolf Theiss advised the issuer.

Wolf Theiss, working with Ropes & Gray, has advised Astorg on the separation of price-reporting agency Fastmarkets from businesss and financial information company Delinian.

On 22 March 2023, an amendment to the Transnational Provision of Services Act (Zakon o čezmejnem izvajanju storitev – ZČmIS-1, “Act on Cross-Border Services“) was adopted and partially came into force on 18 April 2023, with individual provisions becoming effective on 1 January 2024.