Directive 2009/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September amending Council Directives 77/91/EEC, 78/855/EEC and 82/891/EEC, and Directive 2005/56/EC as regards reporting and documentation requirements in the case of mergers and divisions (published in Official Journal No. L 259) was adopted on 16 September 2009. It is yet another Commission measure to support business and enhance the competitiveness of companies by reducing the administrative burden and the costs resulting therefrom. The new legislation also leaves it up to the companies or their shareholders to decide what reports they actually need. The simplified reporting and documentation requirements is primarily reflected in the Third (78/855/EEC) and Sixth (82/891/EEC) Company Directive which apply to, and lay down the rules for, national mergers and divisions.

On 23 September 2009, the European Commission presented legislative proposals to enhance supervision over the European Financial Sector. The proposals are based on a report by Jacques de Larosièr, the former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and his recommendations, which define a more efficient and integrated supervisory framework that would operate on a cross-border, European level. The new supervision architecture focuses on future sustainable reinforcement of financial stability throughout the entire EU, harmonising rules and creating coherent supervisory practice and enforcement, identifying systemic risks in early stage, enhancing cooperation in extraordinary circumstances and resolving disputes, if any, between supervisory authorities.

Directive 2009/111/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 amending Directives 2006/48/EC, 2006/49/EC and 2007/64/EC as regards banks affiliated to central institutions, certain own funds items, large exposures, supervisory arrangements, and crisis management took force on 7 December 2009. The Directive amendment applicable to capital requirements is primarily a response to shortcomings revealed by the financial crisis, one of them being the due functioning of the supervision over cross-border bank groups; the major changes thus do not involve only banks and other regulated parties, but the very regulators themselves. The other areas to which the amendment applies include exposure rules, liquidity risk management, application of hybrid capital instruments in capital management and the requirements for securitization transactions.

Kocián Šolc Balaštík assisted in the international merger of PHL Správní a.s. with Cyprus-based CIMEX FRANCHISE MANAGEMENT LIMITED.

Kocián Šolc Balaštík organized its fifteenth annual Charity Concert of Good Will for the benefit of the Good Will Committee – Olga Havel Foundation. The concert was held on 22 November in the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude in Prague’s Old Town.

Notification of the Finance Ministry dated 2 December 2008 on classification of tangible assets into depreciation groups; Decree sets foreign meal allowances for 2009; Information on application of the provisions of Section 36, subsection 11 of the VAT Act

For the taxation period commencing 1 January 2008,  a newly concluded double-tax treaty between the Czech Republic and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which also prevents tax evasion in the area of income taxes, became effective.

Amendment to the VAT Act in the Chamber of Deputies; The Act on Financial Administration of the Czech Republic and the Act on Customs Administration

Pursuant to the resolution of the Supreme Court dated 9 September 2009, No. 2 Afs 58/2009-85, a request for elimination of doubt based on the provisions of Section 43 of Act No. 337/1992, Coll., on Tax Administration and Collection, is illegal if it does not contain concrete specified doubt for subsequent refutation by the taxpayer.

Pursuant to a resolution by the Constitutional Court, resolutions on tax forgiveness based on the provisions of Section 55a of Act No. 337/1992, Coll., on Tax Administration and Collection can be reviewed by a court.

Discounts on insurance – Act No. 221/2009 Coll. amending Act No. 589/1992 Coll. on Social Security Insurance Contributions and Act No. 586/1992 Coll. on Income Taxes; The Payment System Act; The Amendment to the Act of Administration of Taxes and Fees through the Payment System Act

In the second year of the Leading Law Firm of the Year Competition organized by EPRAVO.CZ under the auspices of the Czech Bar Association, law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík was awarded the leading law firm in the fields of company law and competition law for 2009.

The amendment, which was published under Act No. 215/2009 Coll., and took force and effect on 20 July 2009, is primarily harmonizing in character. The majority of changes arise from implementation of the Amendment to the so-called Second Company Law Directive and simplify certain aspects of provisions applicable to limited liability companies. The main changes include the reduction of requirements to valuate asset contributions, requirements for so-called financial assistance and acquisition of own shares.

The amendment to the Act on the Protection of Economic Competition (published under Act No. 155/2009, Coll.) brings existing Czech regulations in line with EC competition law. The amendment applies to a number of provisions and specifies or replaces their wording with the aim of removing existing differences of application and interpretation. In addition the amendment implements certain new “European” institutes, in particular the simplified proceedings on obtaining approval for concentration of undertakings and sector-related surveys. The proceedings before the Antimonopoly Office shall be regulated in greater detail while the provisions on sanctions have been completely revised.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík is representing the UNIMEX-TVS consortium, consisting of UNIMEX GROUP, a.s. and Travel Service, a.s., during the privatization process of Czech Airlines.

Discounts on insurance – Act No. 221/2009 Coll. amending Act No. 589/1992 Coll. on Social Security Insurance Contributions and Act No. 586/1992 Coll. on Income Taxes; The Payment System Act; The Amendment to the Act of Administration of Taxes and Fees through the Payment System Act

Notification of the Finance Ministry dated 2 December 2008 on classification of tangible assets into depreciation groups; Decree sets foreign meal allowances for 2009; Information on application of the provisions of Section 36, subsection 11 of the VAT Act

For the taxation period commencing 1 January 2008,  a newly concluded double-tax treaty between the Czech Republic and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which also prevents tax evasion in the area of income taxes, became effective.

Amendment to the VAT Act in the Chamber of Deputies; The Act on Financial Administration of the Czech Republic and the Act on Customs Administration

Pursuant to the Supreme Administrative Court's (SAC) interpretation, since the definition of the term in question is not included in the VAT Act, it is necessary to take into consideration the European Court of Justice’s interpretation pursuant to European legislation. Therefore, in order to make a lease of non-residential premises exempt from VAT, merely meeting the formal requirements of a Lease Agreement under the general civil law rules is not sufficient; the term “lease” and its exemption from VAT needs to be interpreted in a restrictive manner.

Statutes amending the Income Tax Act have been published in the Collection of Laws.

Based on the Supreme Administrative Court's (SAC) opinion, the fine cannot be imposed on the executive as a natural person but should be imposed directly on the legal entity on behalf of which the executive acts.

Kocián Šolc Balaštík was named for the fourth consecutive year Czech Republic Law Firm of the Year 2009 in the international Who’s Who Legal Awards organized by the British rating agency Who’s Who Legal.

Directive of European Parliament and Council 2009/49 of 18 June 2009 (Official Journal L 164/2009) is a further step toward reducing the administrative burden on firms. It allows medium-sized companies to abolish the requirement to disclosure certain information in their accounting and also reduces the duty to prepare consolidated accounts and a consolidated annual report.

Decision of the European Commission in the case of Electrabel (COMP/M.4994) On 10 June 2009 the European Commission imposed a fine of 20 million EUR on the company Electrabel since it did not notify the Commission during its acquisition of Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (hereinafter "CNR") of this intention and thus failed to fulfil its obligations under Council Regulation No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings. This rule requires that the Commission be informed of the merger in advance in case those companies fall within the scope of the Regulation. The Commission may investigate whether a significant infringement of free competition within the European Union occurred by this merger.

Decision of the European Commission in the case of INTEL (COMP/37.990) The European Commission has imposed a penalty in the amount of €1.06 billion on the computer microprocessor manufacturer Intel for the abuse of its dominant position (see Article 82 of the EC Treaty) on 13 May 2009. The Commission ruled that Intel abused its dominant position on the market from October 2002 until December 2007 by being involved in two types of illegal conduct.

An amendment to Regulation No 1927/2006 establishing the European Globalization Adjustment Fund (Official Journal L 167/2009) has temporarily extended the scope of this fund. It will be possible to finance from its resources support to workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic and financial crisis. The contribution for this purpose is available until the end of 2011. Concurrently the amendment has mitigated current intervention criteria.

Commission Regulation No 355/2009 (Official Journal L 109/2009) reduces the total amount of fees to be paid to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market for the registration of a Community trademark.

On 29 April 2009 the European Commission issued the Recommendation on remuneration policy in the financial services sector (Official Journal L 120/2009). Uniform principles apply to all companies operating in this sector and should be applied primarily to employees whose job description has a substantial impact on the risk profile of the company. The remuneration policy will also be subject to the supervisor’s assessment. The Recommendation is not legally binding but the Commission envisages the adoption of regulations that will reflect the main requirements of the remuneration policy. Member States should take the necessary measures to implement the Recommendation by the end of this year.

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.

At the end of April the European Parliament passed in the second reading the energy package dealing with the further functioning of the single EU energy market, mainly the strengthening of its competitiveness and security. In the hitherto most controversial issue of fission energy companies, the members of Parliament receded from the original strict requirement of full ownership unbundling of production capacity from the transmission networks owned. The approved compromise also brings a strengthening of consumers’ rights.

The European Commission has also completed in a form of a Recommendation the existing system of remuneration of directors of listed companies (Official Journal L 120/2009). The Commission asserts basic principles that are the same as the remuneration in the financial sectors: focus on long-term sustainability instead of short-term results, elimination of excessive payment incommensurate with performance, simplifying the pay structure and its transparency. Other requirements relate to the principles of payment of the so-called "golden parachutes" and bonuses in the form of shares or share options.

European authorities have agreed on the compromise text of a Directive on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II). Its main objective is to strengthen the stability of the insurance sector, to deepen its integration and competitiveness. The current 13 Directives relating to insurance and reinsurance have been recast into a single act. New and more elaborate rules of capital adequacy should better reflect the risks that insurance and reinsurance carry and ensure their sufficient coverage.

On 27 April 2009, an amendment to Act No. 215/2004, Coll., on Regulation of Certain Relationships within the Area of State Aid and certain other regulations was published under No. 109/2009, Coll.  New term “state aid coordination body” has been introduced which, in addition to the existing Antimonopoly Office, is the Ministry of Agriculture, since the powers of the act was extended to cover state aid in the fields of agriculture and fishing.

On 27 April  2009, an amendment to Governmental Regulation No. 299/2001, Coll., on Using Funds from the State Fund of Dwelling Development for covering a Part of Interests from Loans Provided by Banks to Legal Entities and Individuals for Repairs, Modernization or Regeneration of Panel Houses,  was adopted. The regulation took effect on 1 May 2009.

Under Act No. 110/2009, Coll., the area of Support Research and Development from Public Funds has been amended. The new regulation represents a fundamental and conceptual change and constitutes a part of the reform of the system of research, development and innovations approved by the government with the aim to strengthen the effectivity of using state funds in this field. The subject of regulation by the act was extended by innovations. Provision of aid should be generally simplified; the number of providers was limited, so that the aid will not include all resorts. It is also assumed that access to drawing on funds from structural funds and EU framework programs will be easier.

Kocián Šolc Balaštík has expanded its legal team by three new advocates: Mgr. Miloslav Petrů, LL.M., Ing. Mgr. Ivo Šimeček, M.E.S. and Mgr. Jan Hrubec. With nearly seventy lawyers and tax advisors in offices in Prague, Karlovy Vary and Ostrava, KSB is ranked one of the largest law firms in the Czech Republic.

Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 creating a European order for payment procedure took force and effect on 12 December 2008. The Regulation is directly applicable in all Member States with the exception of Denmark and helps creditors swiftly and efficiently recover their outstanding debts in civil and commercial matters having cross-borders implications through a uniform procedure using standard forms.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík provided legal consultancy to Closed Unit Trust Fortius 1, managed by the investment company Fortius Global Investments, in the takeover of assets of the joint-stock company TERION CZ a.s.

Amendment to the VAT Act and the Income Tax Act; Amendment to Decree No. 500/2002 Coll., implementing certain provisions of the Accounting Act; Collection of Acts

Amendment to the Income Tax Act; Chamber of Deputies postpones approval of partial harmonization amendment to the VAT Act and Excise Tax Act; Amendment to the Foreign Currency Act

In judgment No. 2 Afs 112/2008-44 dated 24 February 2009, the Supreme Administrative Court commented on the term “in connection with business operations”. The need for an explanation of the term is the result of a dispute between a taxpayer and the tax authority over a father’s donation of assets to his son, the father and son both having originally been engaged in the same business.

The European Parliament adopted at its February session the Directive providing for sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals. Criminal penalties may be applied to deny this form of grey economy. Where the employer is a subcontractor the penalties may be imposed on its business partner as well. The Directive also aims at providing illegal workers with legal payroll. 

The EU Finance Ministers under the Czech Presidency finally agreed on 10 March 2009 to reduce the value added tax rate for certain services. The draft amendment to Directive No. 2006/112 primarily covers areas where the current exemptions only made it possible to apply VAT lower than 15% by the end of 2010, which could result in considerable price increase for these services after 2010. The initiative constitutes a part of the European Small Business Support Program (Small Business Act).

Judgment by the ECJ of 16 December 2008 in the case C-210/06 Cartesio Oktató és Szolgáltató Bt The European Court of Justice dealt with yet another case of a transfer of a company seat to another EU Member State. Cartesio, a limited partnership incorporated under Hungarian law with its company seat in Hungary, filed a petition with the registration court to transfer its seat to Italy. The registration court dismissed the petition due to the fact that Hungarian law does not make it possible for a company incorporated in Hungary to transfer its seat to a foreign country and, at the same time, be subject to Hungarian law as its personal statute.

One of the first sessions held by the Czech presidency was the session of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council during which the joint position to the energy liberalization package was approved. As expected, the Council did not endorse most of the draft amendments by the European Parliament which were adopted in the first reading held last year. Unbundling or separation of electricity generation from transmission systems continues to be one of the most controversial issues, having impact on all gas producers and electricity generators in the EU. 

The EU authorities passed Directive 2008/118/EC concerning the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty, which repeals Directive No. 92/12/EEC. The new legislation shall substantially aid in the efficient exchange of information between national tax authorities, introduce an electronic system for the monitoring of movement of consumer goods within the EU and define the legal framework for the functioning thereof. It also refines the definition of the objects subject to excise duty and the rules applicable to the payment thereof for the international shipping of goods. It has been designed to improve, and render more efficient, the fight against tax evasion.

The European Commission has issued instructions for enforcement priorities in application of Article 82 of the EC Treaty against abusive exclusionary conduct by dominant undertakings, which discriminate against other competitors on the market (Official Bulletin C 45 dated 24 February 2009). The document should assist companies in anticipating whether the Commission will intervene with regard to their  particular conduct. 

The negotiations on the legal framework of a European Private Company (Societas Privata Europaea) progressed significantly during March. The European Parliament discussed and approved (subject to several amendments) the proposal on the statute for a European private company. 

The European Commission presented a proposal at the end of last year as part of a package of proposals addressing the financial crisis. It was instigated by current insufficient control over the quality of work of rating agencies that many people believe fairly contributed to the current financial crisis. Credit rating has been subject to legislation primarily applicable to other aspects of financial markets (Directive No. 2003/6 on insider dealing and market manipulation and Directive No. 2006/49 on the capital adequacy of investment firms and credit institutions). 

The European Parliament approved in its March session the proposal for a directive on industrial emissions on first reading. The proposal suggests consolidating the current seven industrial-emission laws into a single act – directive on integrated pollution prevention and restriction (IPPR) and six industry laws – the so-called VOC, LCP, titanium dioxide and waste burning directives. The reasons for this change are not to merely eliminate difficulties and discrepancies in the current legal framework, but respond to the ever-increasing emission levels which pollute water, soil and air, in attempt to create a more efficient pan-European framework and standards for an integrated approach to prevention. 

Kocián Šolc Balaštík successfully represented Agrofert Holding, a.s. in proceedings before the Anti-Monopoly Authority regarding Agrofert’s merger with Agropol. The Anti-Monopoly Authority permitted the merger subject to predefined conditions.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík, named several times by international rating agencies as a leading Czech law firm, opened a new branch office in Ostrava on 1 March 2009. The opening of KSB’s Ostrava branch office is an expression of KSB’s focus on satisfying the needs of its large corporate clients from the Moravia region.

Amendment to the Income Tax Act; Chamber of Deputies postpones approval of partial harmonization amendment to the VAT Act and Excise Tax Act; Amendment to the Foreign Currency Act

Notification of the Finance Ministry dated 2 December 2008 on classification of tangible assets into depreciation groups; Decree sets foreign meal allowances for 2009; Information on application of the provisions of Section 36, subsection 11 of the VAT Act

Changes in payment of social security contributions from 1 January 2009; Maximum assessment base for 2009; Sickness Insurance Act

Pursuant to the Award by the Constitutional Court dated 1 December 2008 (I. ÚS 705/06), the facts ascertained by tax authorities (carrying out procedural acts) in the course of a tax inspection that serve the decision-making of tax administrators but subsequently found to be illegal by the Financial Directorate, cannot be reapplied by the tax administrator.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík has been providing legal consultancy to its long-term client, the globally operating Canadian company MAGNA, in its acquisition of Cadence Innovation, s.r.o. The company belongs to the largest world-wide manufacturers of car parts and is established in the Czech Republic.

Professor Jan Dědič, a partner of law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík, wrote an article on changes expected in 2009 concerning legal regulations in commercial law in the Czech-German Commercial and Industrial Chamber's magazine Plus, which was published in February.

Notification of the Finance Ministry dated 2 December 2008 on classification of tangible assets into depreciation groups; Decree sets foreign meal allowances for 2009; Information on application of the provisions of Section 36, subsection 11 of the VAT Act

Changes in payment of social security contributions from 1 January 2009; Maximum assessment base for 2009; Sickness Insurance Act

The break-through resolution of the Constitutional court concerning the deadline for additional tax assessment of which we informed in the past Tax News was preceding by another interesting resolution from the end of November 2008 in which the Constitutional court provided its comments on the contents and objective of tax inspection.

Communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on termination of the Agreement between the Czech Republic and the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics on Social Security and the Protocol to the Agreement in relation to the Russian Federation

Amendment to the Income Tax Act; Chamber of Deputies postpones approval of partial harmonization amendment to the VAT Act and Excise Tax Act; Amendment to the Foreign Currency Act

Kocián Šolc Balaštík advised OKD, a.s. in connection with the spin-off of OKD’s CZK 2.8 billion worth of energy-related assets to its sister company NWR Energy, a.s.

In the end of the past year, an amendment to the Cadastral Register Act was passed. In addition to legislative and technical adjustments, the amendment also contains significant factual changes. In general, data registered in the Cadastral Register will be more easily accessible, since in view of the advanced digitalization, any Cadastral Office may provide extracts, extracts from cadastral maps and any other data regardless of where the real estate is situated or under what Cadastral Office its cadastral area belongs. Simultaneously, together with the protection of important personal data that is usually contained in the Cadastral Register’s information system (such as information on financial circumstances, in particular information on acquisition of assets, purchase prices, etc.), the provision of certain data will be subject to certain regulation.

The amendment to the Banking Act increases the maximum compensation provided under insurance of deposits to the amount equaling the equivalent of EUR 50,000. The new amendment took effect on 15 December 2008.

Following the new regulation concerning mergers and other transformations effective 1 July 2008, an amendment was passed to Decree 250/2005, Coll. on Binding Forms for Filing Applications for Entry into Commercial Register. The major change is a new detailed regulation of mandatory annexes documenting facts entered into the Commercial Register in case of transformations of commercial companies, cooperatives and European cooperatives.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík provided legal advice to the MICHEL THIERRY GROUP SA during the merger and transfer of assets of its subsidiaries.

Law firm Kocián Šolc Balaštík, recognized as the Czech Republic's leading law firm in corporate law by the November survey of ePravo.cz, expanded its team of attorneys by two new members, Radka Felgrová and Martin Škrabal.