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Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the “CSRD”) required EU member states to complete its transposition by 6 July 2024. However, uneven implementation led the EU Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against 17 member states, including the Czech Republic and Romania, on 26 September 2024, citing their failure to fully communicate the necessary transposition measures. These states now face a two-month deadline to finalise the process and respond to the formal notice. While the CSRD’s transposition is nearing completion, attention is turning to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (the “CSDDD”), an equally significant piece of legislation.
Understanding Hungary’s Guarantee of Origin: A new era for renewable gas
Stay competitive in Hungary’s evolving energy market by understanding the Guarantee of Origin, a crucial certification now available for renewable gas. This change could open doors for businesses focused on sustainability and compliance. Earlier this year, the amendment to the Act XL of 2008 - Natural Gas (the “Natural Gas Act”) brought a significant shift: the introduction of a Guarantee of Origin for renewable gas, similar to what we have seen in the electricity market. The guarantee of origin is an electronic document designed solely to certify, using objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria, that a given share or quantity of gas produced by a specific generation unit qualifies as renewable
Important notice to our valued Clients: Beware of impersonation emails
4 November 2024 – It has come to our attention that some companies in Hungary have received unauthorised fraudulent emails falsely claiming to originate from Kinstellar’s Budapest office (wrongly called “Andrékó Ferenczi Kinstellar Ügyvédi Iroda” – our Budapest Office’s official name is different). This appears to be part of an illegal scam campaign. We assure you that these emails did not come from our official Kinstellar domain and have nothing to do with our Firm. Our IT and Risk & Compliance teams are giving this matter their highest priority and are actively investigating the issue. We are bringing this matter to the relevant authorities. Importantly, this illegal scam campaign appears to have been
Tímea Bana, a leading TMT lawyer in Hungary, joins Kinstellar as Partner
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that Tímea Bana, a high-profile Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT), Data Protection (DP) and Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer, has joined the firm’s Budapest office as a Partner and Head of the local TMT service line and sector, effective 14 October 2024. This strategic move reflects Kinstellar’s commitment to enhancing and expanding its TMT team in Hungary to serve our clients seamlessly across all service lines and sectors. With over 20 years of experience at media companies and top-tier law firms, Tímea is a renowned expert in media, telecommunications and entertainment law. She brings a broad range of knowledge and experience across telecommunications regulatory
Kinstellar advises Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel S.A. on the acquisition of Magyar Cetelem Bank, Hungary
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 teamwork across service lines at Kinstellar's Budapest office. Kinstellar provided comprehensive assistance to Cofidis Bank throughout the entire transaction process, which included extensive corporate support, banking regulatory approvals, merger clearance, competition law considerations, and the closing of the transaction. It was an exceptionally complex deal, characterized by prolonged and detailed negotiations. The Kinstellar team in Budapest was led by Gábor Gelencsér
Kinstellar strengthens its energy team in Budapest with senior expert, Emőke Kovács
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Emőke Kovács, an accomplished legal practitioner in energy law, has joined the firm’s Budapest office as Of Counsel. With an extensive and well-established career in the energy sector, Emőke’s expertise further enhances the strength and reputation of our energy law team. With over 20 years of experience working at energy companies and law firms, Emőke is a highly respected and trusted legal expert in the field. She focuses on advising clients from the electricity and gas industries on regulatory matters, as well as a wide range of issues within the energy sector. Emőke has significant experience in electricity and gas trading, energy and heat distribution, and compliance
Kinstellar advises CCC on the Romanian, Czech, Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovak legal aspects of a PLN 1.8 billion financing agreement
Kinstellar is delighted to announce it has successfully advised CCC—a leading Polish-based footwear manufacturer and retailer with a network of over 1,000 stores across 29 countries—on the Romanian, Czech, Croatian, Hungarian and Slovak legal aspects of a PLN 1.8 billion (approximately EUR 420 million) term and revolving facilities agreement. The financing, which is provided by a consortium of lenders including mBank, EBRD, Bank Pekao, BNP Paribas Bank Polska, PKO Bank Polski, Santander Bank Polska, and Bank Handlowy w Warszawie, as well as the factoring entities Santander Factoring, mFaktoring, PKO Faktoring, and BNP Paribas Faktoring, will support CCC’s ongoing operations and the further development of its brands
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: An Overview of Banking as a Service
In an era defined by digital transformation and the ever-evolving landscape of financial services, the concept of banking as a service (“BaaS”) has emerged as a key force reshaping the industry. By enabling non-bank entities to offer financial services through partnerships with licensed banks or financial institutions, BaaS has opened up a new realm of possibilities, facilitating innovation, enhancing customer experience and promoting financial inclusion. However, realising these opportunities is closely linked to navigating the complex regulatory framework that governs BaaS operations. BaaS can take various forms, allowing non-licensed entities to provide financial products such as banking, payment, e-money
Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
CSRD implementation uneven a month before deadline June 2024 – With less than a month to go before the 6 July 2024 deadline for transposing the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the "CSRD", the “Directive”), countries in Central and Eastern Europe (“CEE”) are still at different stages of implementation. While Romania and Slovakia have completed their legislative processes, Bulgaria and Croatia are still in the legislative pipeline. The Czech Republic and Hungary have completed, at least partially, their transposition, with additional legislation still to be implemented, albeit within uncertain timeframes. For a more comprehensive overview of each stage of the progress on CSRD transposition
Kinstellar advises Vinci Airports on the strategic EUR 3.1 billion+ acquisition of a minority interest in Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport
Kinstellar is proud to have advised Vinci Airports, one of the world’s leading private airport operators, on the strategic acquisition of a minority interest in the group managing the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The majority investment in the transaction was carried out by Hungarian state-controlled Corvinus Zrt., a joint venture partner of Vinci Airports. As a result of this acquisition, with a total purchase price of EUR 3.1 billion plus net debt of EUR 1.2 billion, Vinci Airports becomes the operator of the Budapest airport hub. This transaction is one of the highest profile acquisitions in Hungary, with a record-breaking deal value. It was a highly complex and challenging transaction, entailing intense
Kinstellar advises MOL in connection with their landmark Polyol Project in Hungary – MOL’s largest organic investment to date
Kinstellar is proud to have advised the MOL Group, a leading international integrated oil and gas company, in connection with legal aspects of the MOL Group’s flagship EUR 1.3 billion new polyol complex in Tiszaújváros, Hungary. The new polyol complex, which has just been inaugurated, has the capacity of producing around 200,000 tonnes of polyol per year, and providing long-term employment for nearly 300 people. This landmark project had started in 2017 and Kinstellar has been assisting MOL in connection with the project from 2020. As a result of this project MOL has become the first company in the CEE region to have a fully-integrated value chain from crude oil to polyol production. The Kinstellar team
Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
CSRD implementation: regional progress uneven as deadline draws near As the 6 July 2024 deadline for implementation of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the "CSRD") approaches, a new landscape of reporting standards is beginning to take shape across Central and Eastern Europe ("CEE"). Three of the six countries in CEE (the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania) adopted legislative acts in the beginning of 2024 that, at least partially, implement the CSRD into national legislation. The progress in Slovakia, Bulgaria and Croatia however has been slower. Our third status update on the CSRD implementation in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia is available here. For