EXPERTISE
Financial Institutions

Cybersecurity: Romania transposes the NIS2 Directive. What’s next?

February 2025 – Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2) aims to further strengthen the cyber resilience of the EU by requiring entities in various sectors to dial up their cybersecurity efforts. NIS2 replaces the former NIS1 Directive (EU) 2016/1148, expands...

Practical Note for Investors: Insights into Kazakhstan’s Banking Sector in 2025

December 2024 – In 2024, Kazakhstan’s financial regulator and the president of Kazakhstan emphasised repeatedly the necessity of updating the nation’s banking laws to align with global economic trends. This has been particularly relevant to the...

Practical Note: The Development of the Banking Sector within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)

December 2024 – Since its establishment, the AIFC has generated significant interest by developing its financial services sector, particularly in banking. The financial ecosystem in the AIFC was designed to attract foreign investment, and various incentives...

The National Bank of Ukraine introduced additional changes to currency restrictions

November 2024 – The National Bank of Ukraine published amendments to currency restrictions that were introduced in February 2022 at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Kinstellar advises Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC on the sale of Bereke Bank, in Kazakhstan

October 2024 – Kinstellar has advised Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC on the KZT 65 billion (approx. US$135 million) sale of Bereke Bank JSC to Lesha Bank LLC, the first independent Shari'a-compliant Bank authorized by the Qatar Financial Center...

Kinstellar advises Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel S.A. on the acquisition of Magyar Cetelem Bank, Hungary

October 2024 – Kinstellar has successfully advised Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel S.A. (owner of Cofidis Bank) on the acquisition of BNP Paribas’s Hungarian subsidiary, Magyar Cetelem Bank. This transaction exemplifies the seamless and efficient...

Hugh Owen, a top M&A lawyer in Central and South Eastern Europe, joins Kinstellar as Partner

October 2024 – Kinstellar is very pleased to announce that Hugh Owen joins the Firm as a Partner, effective 1 October 2024.

Romania to introduce stricter compliance rules for crypto-asset service providers

September 2024 – Romania’s National Office for the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering has recently published a draft of an Emergency Ordinance amending and supplementing Law no. 129/2019 on the prevention and control of money laundering and...

Kinstellar advises Nova Ljubljanska Banka on successful completion of Summit Leasing Slovenia acquisition

September 2024 – Kinstellar is proud to have successfully advised Nova Ljubljanska Banka, Slovenia’s largest banking group, on completing the acquisition of 100% of SLS HOLDCO, the parent company of Summit Leasing Slovenija, and its subsidiaries...

The new EU AML framework and its far-reaching implications  

June 2024 – The Council of the European Union has recently adopted a new set of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules, nearly three years after the European Commission unveiled its package of legislative proposals. The legislative package introduces significant...