Romania remains an attractive jurisdiction for many foreign investors across various industries, but it faces challenges related to fiscal administration and predictability. A notable example is the introduction of a new taxation regime for large companies, which became effective on January 1, 2024. Naturally, this initiative triggered several reactions from the business community. Initially, efforts were made to prevent the enactment of such legislation or to propose amendments to mitigate the envisaged fiscal impact. Subsequently, in response to the law’s implementation, companies have begun analyzing different restructuring scenarios to establish optimal business structures that would allow them to continue operating while neutralizing the fiscal burden.

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.

With a growing economy but significant structural deficits, Romania’s healthcare system struggles with underfunding, slow approval processes, and high taxes, making access to new therapies a slow and challenging endeavor, according to Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Associate and Head of Pharma and Medical Devices Dominic Morega.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised Romanian entrepreneurs Gianina and Iulian Nica – owners of the retail chain operating under the “La Cocos” brand – on a strategic investment from EBRD, Morphosis Capital Fund II, and CEECAT Capital. Act Legal Romania, working with Mihaela Mindru Law Office, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, and Van Campen Liem, advised the investors.

Romania’s economic landscape has shown both growth and resilience this year, driven mostly by public and private investments and domestic consumption. Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii Managing Partner Florian Nitu, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Partner Gabriela Cacerea, and Tuca, Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Partner Gabriel Zbarcea report on the pulse of the Romanian economy, focusing on key sectors, such as infrastructure, energy, IT, and automotive, that are leading this growth despite challenges like inflation, labor shortages, and geopolitical uncertainties.

The competitive landscape in Romania is marked by rigorous enforcement and alignment with EU regulations, making it a challenging, dynamic environment for businesses. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Andreea Oprisan discusses recent legislative developments and the Romanian Competition Council’s proactive measures in an effort to shed light on this complex legal framework.

On January 11, 2024, Romania enacted significant amendments to its legislation on public-private partnerships (PPPs). While the country has had a dedicated PPP legal framework since 2002, no major infrastructure projects have been developed through this mechanism. To attract private investors and international financial institutions to participate in such projects in Romania, Government Emergency Ordinance no. 39/2018 on PPPs (GEO no. 39/2018) has been amended substantially.

ACI Partners Managing Partner Igor Odobescu, Nagy es Trocsanyi Founding Partner Peter Nagy, Kinstellar Partner Radovan Grbovic, Law Office Vujacic Partner Sasa Vujacic, and Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Robert Rosu discuss recent litigation trends across CEE, driven by the impact of economic shifts and regulatory changes in their jurisdictions.

Contributed by Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii.

Tuca, Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised America House on its recent lease agreements with VSR and Ebury.

Schoenherr has advised Piraeus Bank on the sale of its participation in a EUR 400 million primarily non-performing exposures portfolio to APS. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised APS.

Across Europe, defense sectors are experiencing significant transformations and budgetary escalations, driven by a need for enhanced military readiness and modernization. Avellum Partner Andriy Romanchuk, Cobalt Partner Deividas Soloveicik, Nagy es Trocsanyi Partner Gyorgy Kiszely, and Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Serban Paslaru take a closer look at defense spending in their respective countries.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised Belgian developer WDP on the full acquisition of the Expo Market Doraly wholesale, cash & carry, and retail shopping complex in Romania. Deloitte Legal reportedly advised sellers ARA Europe and Gheorghe Iaciu.

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.

As 2023 comes to a close, reflections on the year reveal challenges and achievements across Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Partner Gabriel Zbarcea, Schoenherr Bulgaria Local Partner Ilko Stoyanov, and Avellum Managing Partner Mykola Stetsenko share their thoughts on what kind of a year it has been.

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has advised a syndicate of banks on providing a EUR 101.5 million loan facility to the RodBun Group, by refinancing and increasing its existing facilities by EUR 37.14 million. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised the RodBun Group.

Did you know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, a total of twenty law firms and seventeen individual lawyers worked on five or more reported Romanian client matters in 2023? 

The VAT deduction right is probably the most important topic in the VAT system of the European Union. This is also confirmed by the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, where it represents the most addressed subject.