31.7.2009
News

EU regulates hedge funds and other alternative funds

European Commission, after long-term reluctance to intervene in this sector of financial markets, finally presented a proposal for a Directive on managers of alternative investment funds at the end of April. The draft applies to all funds not covered by Directive 85/611 (the so-called UCITS Directive) and encompasses hedge funds, so-called private equity funds, commodities and real estate funds and special funds for professional investors.

However, the proposal counts on a concrete minimum amount of assets managed and thus regulates, for example, hedge funds if they dispose with assets of 100 million € and more. In case of private capital funds the limit should be 500 mil. €.

The aim of the proposal is to subject the said funds to registration and oversight of national regulatory authorities, primarily through their managers. They will be obliged to apply for a license and comply with the standards of management (corporate governance), to develop a risk management system and meet the requirements of capital adequacy. There are important new obligations to provide information that will affect not only supervision and investors, but also the public. 

The proposal is perceived as very controversial. Proponents who believe hedge funds played a significant role in the current financial crisis consider the extent of the proposal to be insufficient. On the other hand a number of financiers and politicians have harshly criticized it as unreasonable and unnecessary. The Commission currently expects the Directive to be approved by July of next year and implementation by Member States should therefore take place in June 2012.

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12.12.2025
News

KŠB assisted Seyfor with the extension of its financing provided by Raiffeisenbank, Tatra banka and, newly, Slovenská sporiteľňa.

The KŠB team provided legal advice to its long-standing client Seyfor in connection with the continuation and expansion of its syndicated financing. The existing lending banks, Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic and Tatra banka, decided to continue supporting Seyfor’s growth, with Slovenská sporiteľňa joining the financing as a new lender.

The KŠB team provided legal advice to its long-standing client Seyfor in connection with the continuation and expansion of its syndicated financing. The existing lending banks, Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic and Tatra banka, decided to continue supporting Seyfor’s growth, with Slovenská sporiteľňa joining the financing as a new lender.

9.12.2025
News

Evidence skutečných majitelů: Co přinese znepřístupnění od 17. prosince 2025?

Letošní rozhodnutí Nejvyššího soudu a Nejvyššího správního soudu navázala na rozsudky Soudního dvora Evropské unie, a, s platností i pro Českou republiku, konstatovala, že zveřejňování údajů v rámci evidence skutečných majitelů představuje nepřiměřený zásah do základních práv majitelů na soukromí a ochranu osobních údajů. Důležitým aspektem těchto rozhodnutí byl závěr, že sankce, které postihují povinné subjekty jako reakce na nesplnění jejich povinnosti zápisu do evidence skutečných majitelů, není možné vymáhat, dokud je evidence veřejná.

Letošní rozhodnutí Nejvyššího soudu a Nejvyššího správního soudu navázala na rozsudky Soudního dvora Evropské unie, a, s platností i pro Českou republiku, konstatovala, že zveřejňování údajů v rámci evidence skutečných majitelů představuje nepřiměřený zásah do základních práv majitelů na soukromí a ochranu osobních údajů. Důležitým aspektem těchto rozhodnutí byl závěr, že sankce, které postihují povinné subjekty jako reakce na nesplnění jejich povinnosti zápisu do evidence skutečných majitelů, není možné vymáhat, dokud je evidence veřejná. Tato situace se změní 17. prosince 2025, kdy ministerstvo znepřístupní evidenci skutečných majitelů; povinným subjektům tak budou opět hrozit závažné sankce.

9.12.2025
Pro bono

30th Advent Concert for the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlová Foundation

This year again, during the pre-Christmas season, the Advent Concert of Good Will took place. Since 1995, it has been organised by the law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík in support of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlová Foundation. This was already the 30th anniversary edition, made exceptional by the fact that we organised it for the first time together with our partner, Smetanova Litomyšl, as part of a broader mutual cooperation. As always, the concert was held in the concert hall of the Church of Sts. Simon and Jude in Prague’s Old Town.

This year again, during the pre-Christmas season, the Advent Concert of Good Will took place. Since 1995, it has been organised by the law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík in support of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlová Foundation. This was already the 30th anniversary edition, made exceptional by the fact that we organised it for the first time together with our partner, Smetanova Litomyšl, as part of a broader mutual cooperation. As always, the concert was held in the concert hall of the Church of Sts. Simon and Jude in Prague’s Old Town.