Banking/Finance

Is Poland Ready for REITs?

REITs first appeared in the US in the 1960s, and the American REIT market has enjoyed considerable growth over the last quarter of a century. From there, REITs have spread to most developed economies, including many EU member states, and can presently be found in approximately 40 countries. In the US, the total return on investment in REITs making up the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index reached 1,225% over the last 25 years, which translates into an average annual return of 10.9%. This, coupled with the good performance of REITs in other countries, contributes to an increased interest in this type of legal structure in jurisdictions where such solutions have yet to be introduced.

Serbian Foreign Exchange Restrictions in Cross-Border Transactions

There are specific foreign exchange (FX) restrictions set out in Serbian legislation. The FX rules envisage mandatory requirements with respect to cross-border loans, guarantees, assignment and set-off of cross-border claims and debt, the opening of bank accounts abroad, etc. As FX restrictions affect various aspects of transactions between Serbian residents and foreign parties, they are frequently a tumbling stone in cross-border transactions.

Crowdfunding – Moldovan Regulations on Participatory Financing

During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest challenges for Moldovan SMEs proved to be access to financing solutions. A financial gap spread nationally across different sectors and industries. Moldovan banking institutions became reluctant to finance SMEs and sole entrepreneurs, while the existing solutions often proved to be expensive and inaccessible.

Montenegro’s Financial Sector, Politics, and The Pandemic

Unprecedented times for the entire world, even more so for Montenegro. Apart from the pandemic that still firmly grips the globe, setting back the economies worldwide, Montenegro has witnessed a huge political shift, as the opposition came to power after narrowly winning the parliamentary election held last year. The victory was hailed by many as the beginning of a new era, expecting the new government to lead this Balkan country toward a more stable and prosperous future. Many changes have been announced, and the financial sector was one of the most talked-about topics.

WKB Names Six Equity Partners, Three New Partners

Wiercinski Kwiecinski Baehr Partners Anna Flaga-Martynek, Marta Midloch, Marcin Smolarek, Maciej Szambelanczyk, Anna Wojciechowska, and Anna Wyrzykowska have become Equity Partners, while Counsels Agata Szczepanczyk-Piwek, Sergiusz Urban, and Jordan Zafirow have been promoted to Partner, as of January 1, 2022.