Search results for

Following the Renewable Energy Act 2011 (RE Act) which came into force in December 2011, the implementation of the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism under the RE Act has been an overwhelming success. After the FIT mechanism was implemented in Peninsular Malaysia over a period of two years, Malaysia had a cumulative total of 119MW of renewable energy connected to the grid as opposed to only 61.2MW of renewable energy capacity connected to the grid from the implementation of the earlier, small renewable energy power programme, which spanned a period of 10 years.

Adrian Roseti As of February 1 2014, both Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes were implemented, replacing regulations that have been in force since 1968, drafted at a time when the political status quo in Romania not only discouraged but even forbade private initiative. Although the previous codes have been subject to several adjustments and substantial case law may have cleared several grey areas, in order to adjust to the realities of the modern economy (for instance, properly defining energy theft, telecommunication resources and internet access and data), the need for new explicit regulation has superseded the conservative approach. Despite the fact that the new provisions were initially announced as imposing milder sanctions, it appears that whereas in specific cases some sanctions have decreased, any multiple offence is now sanctioned in a more drastic manner and in some cases sanctions have even increased (for example in competition law crimes).

Kerem Turunç of TURUNÇ describes some of the recent changes to Turkish securities regulation

Noyan Turunç of TURUNÇ discusses collective labour relations under Turkish law

Serra Basoglu Gurkaynak of Mehmet Gun & Partners analyses the regulatory framework of M&A transactions in Turkey and offers an overview of activity across the regulated markets

Noyan Turunç and Kerem Turunç of TURUNÇ discuss Turkish law developments concerning fund formation

Beatriz Causapé Guayente Gállego Spanish Royal Decree-Law 4/2014, passed on March 7 2014, has considerably changed the rules for the court-sanctioning of so-called Spanish schemes of arrangement. Among those changes, the reform has lowered the majorities required to achieve a Spanish scheme. Currently, a majority of at least 51% of the financial liabilities held by all creditors at the time of the refinancing agreement (acuerdo de refinanciación) approval, will suffice to request the insolvency judge to sanction the agreement, so it is considered ring-fenced and protected from any challenge for rescission.

Oene Marseille Emir Nurmansyah Indonesia has shortened its review process by 30 days for the issuance of the principal licence, considered to be the preliminary licence before the final issuance of the borrow-to-use permit (Izin Pinjam Pakai) for its forest areas. Indonesia's Minister of Forestry decreed this in its updated guidelines on the issuance of borrow-to-use permits for forest areas in Indonesia. Under the new guidelines (Regulations of the Ministry of Forestry), the principal licence review process is shortened from a maximum of 120 business days to 90 business days. The review process for the issuance of the borrow-to-use permit itself, for which the principle licence is a prerequisite, remains unchanged (a maximum review period of 90 days is prescribed). Further, the new guidelines have left untouched a bulk of the old procedures and mechanisms. For example, the provisions dealing with general application procedures, requisite supporting documents, applicant's obligations and the required compensatory actions remain the same. The borrow-to-use permit is issued by the Minister of Forestry of Indonesia. This permit is one of the most important, yet onerous licences to obtain before conducting any natural resource exploration and exploitation activities in a forest area in Indonesia. Industries traditionally affected by this permit requirement include oil and gas, geothermal, coal and other minerals, power generation, lumber, and plantations.

Elias Neocleous The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued a circular reminding providers of administrative and corporate services (ASPs) that it supervises their reporting obligations under the Law regulating Companies providing Administrative Services and Related Matters of 2012 (the ASP Law). It draws attention to article 11(1)(c) of the ASP Law, which provides that ASPs whose application for a licence is under consideration by CySEC must comply with the requirements of the ASP Law and CySEC Directive D?144-2007-08 of 2012 for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (the AML Directive).

Gonenc Gurkaynak of Elig Attorneys at Law explains the recent Draft Law and Regulation, which aim to bring Turkish competition law in line with more streamlined EU standards