New version of Law on Collective Investment Undertakings approved

      With effect from 01.03.2008, a new version of the Law on Collective Investment Undertakings, correcting inadequacies in practices established in the previous law, will come into force. This version of the Law extends the list of legal entities allowed in Lithuania.

      One of these is a closed-end investment company (CEIC), defined as a public company issuing a fixed number of shares redeemable for a period stipulated in the statutes of a public company or at any other time established in its statutes in advance.

      After the new version of the Law comes into effect, investment of assets of special collective investment undertakings will be allowed in real estate, as well as in securities of companies admitted to trading on a regulated market in trade and in other alternative investment instruments. Under the new version of the Law, only a public company holding a CEIC licence issued by the Securities Commission may engage in CEIC activities.

      The Law further stipulates that the words “akcine bendrove” (eng. public company) in the name of a company with variable capital or their abbreviation AB, are not obligatory. A public company seeking engagement in CEIC activities is required to apply to the Securities Commission annexing its programme of intended activities and other requisite information, on the basis of which the Securities Commission would be able to decide if the company meets requirements for licensed activities.

      Managers of management companies (i.e. companies engaged in managing investment companies or funds) will henceforth be subject to extremely strict standards of good repute, which were not emphasised in the previous wording of the Law.

      The competence of the Securities Commission has been extended by establishing procedures for use of financial derivative instruments of collective investment undertakings and assessment of related risks, for merging unit trust/common funds, and for distribution of units and shares of collective investment undertakings.

      Issues regarding acquisition of a qualifying holding of a management company are considered separately. If a person wishing to acquire a qualifying interest in a management company is a licensed management company in another Member State, or a financial brokerage company, credit institution, insurance company, or a parent company or a controlling person of any of those undertakings, the Securities Commission is required to seek an opinion from the regulatory authority of the relevant Member State.

      With effect from 01.03.2008, a permit of the Securities Commission will be required for approval, change of or supplement to the digest of instruments of incorporation, and for merging unit trust/common funds administered by a management company.

      The license of a management company (CEIC) may be cancelled as soon as the business period established in the statutes of the investment company expires and the license holder fails to apply in writing requesting annulment of the license. This version of the Law was intended for harmonising the existing Law on Collective Investment Undertakings with Council Directive 85/611/EEC of 20.12.1985 on the coordination of laws, regulation and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS), as well as with Commission Directive 2006/73/EC of 10.08.2006 implementing Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards organisational requirements and operating conditions for investment firms and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive (OL 2006 L 241, p. 26).

      Additional information: Algirdas Peksys

      e-mail: algirdas.peksys@sorainen.lt

      More efficient protection of consumer interests

      On 12.12.2007 amendments to the Consumer Protection Act entered into force. These transpose Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning unfair business-toconsumer commercial practices. The Directive addresses commercial practices directly related to influencing consumers’ transactional decisions in relation to products and services. The direct purpose of the Directive is to protect consumer economic interests. At the same time, the Directive also indirectly protects the interests of traders – fair competition is promoted by hindering the activities of businesses that use unfair practices. The Directive, as well as the Consumer Protection Act, applies to all traders whose activities are related to advertising, sale or supply of products or services to consumers.

      The scope of application under the Consumer Protection Act has been expanded by the amendments. Hitherto, the Consumer Protection Act treated any product as a movable. Under current regulation, a product is anything offered for sale, sold or marketed to a consumer in any other way, likewise any immovable, service or right. The amendments prohibit unfair commercial practices in relation to any consumer. A commercial practice is unfair if it is contrary to the requirements of professional diligence observed in the economic or professional activities of the trader and distorts the average consumer’s economic behaviour with regard to the product or service. Under the Act, commercial practices are unfair if they mislead the consumer or are aggressive with regard to the consumer. The Act explains what kind of commercial practices fit into these categories. The Act defines requirements concerning information that the trader has to communicate.

      Additional information: Reimo Hammerberg

      e-mail: reimo.hammerberg@sorainen.ee

      First criminal punishment for cartel practice

      On 21.12.2007 Harju Country Court made a ruling which established that AS Spacecom (a company active in the transit sector) and its member of the management board Mr. Oleg Ossinovski were guilty of an attempt to agree upon practices violating free competition. The company was fined in the amount of EEK 500,000 (approximately EUR 32,000) and Mr. Ossinovski respectively EEK 180,736 (approximately EUR 11,550). This is the first court decision made in Estonia which imposes criminal punishment to a natural and a legal person for violating competition law and is a clear indication of the increasing activity by Estonian enforcement authorities in the field.

      Additional information: Toomas Prangli

      e-mail: toomas.prangli@sorainen.ee

      Recognition for Enterpreneurs` Portal in European Enterprise Awards Competition

      The Enterpreneurs` Portal was acknowledged at the European Enterprise Awards 2007 as one of two projects considered best in red tape reduction. The jury recognised the Enterpreneurs` Portal as the best example of reducing costs and simplifying procedures.

      The Enterpreneurs` Portal was opened on 02.01.2007. Since then, 30% of new companies in Estonia have been formed by this means. The Enterpreneurs` Portal enables formation of private limited companies, registration of sole proprietors, general partnerships or limited partnerships as well as changes in company data entered in the commercial register. Companies can also deliver through the portal their annual reports and other documents for submission to the registrar.

      In the opinion of the jury, the Enterpreneurs` Portal also serves as an example for other EU Member States. While forming a company takes an average of 12 days in other Member States, the Enterpreneurs` Portal enables company formation in Estonia in 2 days.

      The Enterpreneurs` Portal can currently be used for expedited operations only by holders of an Estonian identity card. The future aim of the Enterpreneurs` Portal is to enable people from other Member States to form companies. This could happen after recognition of cross-border digital signatures.

      Additional information: Karin Madisson

      e-mail: karin.madisson@sorainen.ee

      Improvement of the existing regime for insolvency in Latvia On 01.01.2008 a new Insolvency Law entered into force repealing the old law on Insolvency of Companies.

      The new law provides substantial changes in the existing regime for insolvency in Latvia and aims to improve it. The new law applies to insolvency proceedings not only against companies, but also against associations, foundations, individual merchants, and, to a certain extent, participants in financial and capital markets. Also an individual may be subject to insolvency proceedings and even declared bankrupt. An individual may petition for insolvency if unable to settle a debt i) which is due, if such debt exceeds 50 times the minimum monthly wage, currently amounting to LVL 8,000, or ii) which will be due after 1 year, if the individual can prove it and if such debt exceeds 100 times the minimum monthly wage, currently amounting to LVL16,000.

      The law provides for changes in insolvency proceedings of legal persons. The most important change is that a creditor may petition for insolvency of a debtor (legal person) only if the debt due exceeds LVL 1,000 and if the creditor gives 3 weeks to the debtor. If the debt due exceeds the assets of the debtor, the creditor may apply for insolvency without giving three weeks’ notice. Under the old law, insolvency proceedings could be initiated for any outstanding debt (no matter how small the amount), thus allowing creditors to misuse insolvency proceedings against solvent debtors. Further, the law provides a new process of judicial composition. This is intended to restore the solvency of a company when it temporarily lacks money to settle its debts due. A company may apply for judicial protection if its assets exceed debts due and if the company has been registered for at least three years and has submitted annual reports for the last three years. Instituted insolvency (incl. liquidation) proceedings preclude judicial protection of a company.

      As a result of the Insolvency Law, further amendments to the Law on Civil Procedure and the Law on the Company Register have been introduced. These provide for establishment of an insolvency register, where information about ongoing insolvency proceedings will be available.

      Additional information:

      Lasma Liede

      e-mail: lasma.liede@sorainen.lv

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      Sales pitch limited, consumer protection increased On 01.01.2008 the Law on Prohibition of Unfair Commercial Practices came into force. The new law implements the norms of Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices. The Law provides that unfair commercial practices are prohibited. Commercial practices relate to any action (including inaction) by a trader, service provider, or producer directed at promotion or sale of goods, or provision of services to a consumer. A commercial practice is unfair if within the meaning of the law it is either contrary to the requirements of professional diligence and it materially distorts or is likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer, or if it is misleading or aggressive. As a result, producers and providers of services and traders will be liable, for example, for making false claims about goods – such as their approval by a public or a private body, their limited availability, or their ability to cure illnesses.

      Producers and providers of services and traders will likewise be liable if, e.g., they display a trust or quality mark without authorization, deliver materially inaccurate information about the market, claim to offer a prize promotion but with no actual reward, or describe a product as free when consumers have to pay something in addition to the cost of reply and delivery of the item. The law will also apply to such aggressive practices as persistent and unwanted solicitations by telephone, fax, e-mail or other remote media, visiting a consumer's home ignoring requests to leave or not to return. As a result, producers, service providers and traders will have to be cautious when choosing their strategies related to promotion and sales.

      Additional information:

      Janis Likops

      e-mail: janis.likops@sorainen.lv

      New rules for issuing certificates of permanent residence in Lithuania for EU citizens

      With effect from 01.11.2007, a description of the procedure for issuing a certificate approving the right of a citizen of an EU Member State allowing permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania came into effect.

      The description specifies cases based on which EU citizens and members of their families who have resided in Lithuania less than five years, may be issued certificates validating their right to permanently reside in Lithuania.

      EU Member State citizens wishing to obtain a certificate must generally apply in person to the Migration Department through the Migration Agency within whose service territory they declare or intend to declare their place of residence. In addition, separate groups of persons defined in the Law have to provide the Migration Agency with other documents.

      Once a person submits all the requisite documents, a file regarding the right to permanently reside in Lithuania is compiled. An application by an EU citizen has to be reviewed and decided not later than within one month after filing with the Migration Agency. The description also stipulates grounds for forfeiture of the right of EU citizens to permanently reside in Lithuania. If an EU citizen changes their residence in Lithuania, the local Migration Agency, upon request, transfers the file to the Migration Agency local to the new place of residence. Required forms include:

      - register of applications to approve the right of an EU Member State citizen to permanently reside in the Republic of Lithuania, form of personal data of a foreigner,

      - register of issuance of applications for approval of the right of an EU Member State citizen to permanently reside in the Republic of Lithuania,

      - register of decisions regarding the right of an EU Member State citizen to permanently reside in the Republic of Lithuania.

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      New procedure for issuing work permits to foreigners residing in Lithuania

      On 05.10.2007 an Order of the Minister of Social Security and Labour came into effect changing some provisions relating to issuance of work permits to foreigners residing in Lithuania.

      The Order repeals the requirement for employers wishing to employ a foreigner to provide the territorial labour exchange with a copy of the registration certificate of a legal entity. In addition to other requisite documents, an employer wishing to employ a foreigner will now have to provide the territorial labour exchange with a copy of a document evidencing the foreigner’s three-year work experience according to their professional qualification over the preceding five years.

      The Order establishes a new shortened term of one month for analysis of a request by an employer to issue a work permit to a foreigner, i.e. a high qualification specialist. Additionally, employers must register a vacancy one month in advance before applying to the territorial labour exchange. Upon expiry of a work permit, a foreigner is required to leave Lithuania and may not be employed in Lithuania for at least one month from expiry of the work permit.

      Additional information: Mantas Rimkevicius

      e-mail: mantas.rimkevicius@sorainen.lt

      

      European Court of Justice delivers two important judgments for the Baltics

      In December 2007, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) handed down its first judgments in cases which directly relate to application of the EC’s fundamental freedoms in the Baltics, namely – freedom of establishment in Estonia (the Viking Line case) and freedom to provide services by a Latvian company in Sweden (the Laval case). Both cases are important for overall development of European law and in particular a balance between fundamental rights such as the right to strike, and fundamental freedoms under European law such as freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services.

      In its judgment of 11.12.2007 in the Viking Line case (C-438/05) the ECJ confirmed that the right to take collective action, including the right to strike, is a fundamental right under European law. But exercise of such right may none the less be subject to certain restrictions. The court reiterated its case law that protection of fundamental rights is a legitimate interest which may be called on to justify a restriction of the obligations imposed by European law, including freedom of establishment. Such restriction may be justified in certain cases for overriding reasons of public interest, such as protection of workers, provided that such restriction is suitable for securing the attainment of the objective which it pursues and does not go beyond what is necessary in order to attain it. It left the national court to decide if in the present case the two latter conditions are fulfilled.

      In its judgment of 18.12.2007 in the Laval case (C-341/05) the ECJ, while confirming the right to take collective action, held that collective Swedish trade union action (blockade of all Laval’s sites in Sweden) constitutes a restriction on the freedom to provide services. As in the Viking Line case, the court held that such restriction may be justified by overriding reasons of public interest and if that is the case, it must be proportionate. The court accepted that in principle the right to take collective action for protecting workers of the host state against possible social dumping might constitute an overriding reason of public interest. However, the court held that a restriction on providing services by Laval in Sweden cannot be justified on such grounds taking into account the directive on posting of workers (96/71/EC) and its implementation in Sweden. The court further held that Swedish rules, which do not take into account collective agreements with Latvian trade unions concluded by Laval, give rise to discrimination against Laval, in so far as under Swedish rules Laval is treated in the same way as Swedish undertakings which have not concluded any collective agreement. Such discrimination can be justified only on the basis of public policy, public security or public health, none of which are present in this case.

      Additional information: Lasma Liede e-mail: lasma.liede@sorainen.lv

      Competition in the insurance intermediaries market will increase

      As of 01.01.2008 amendments to the Activities of Insurance and Reinsurance Intermediaries Law came into force. The aim of the amendments is to increase competition in the insurance intermediaries market. The amendments introduce a special insurance intermediary category – credit institutions – who may engage in insurance mediation on behalf of and in the interests of several insurance brokers or branches of non-Member State insurers, if insurance is additional to services provided as basic activities of the credit institution. Simultaneously, credit institutions may not advise or prepare an offer on the basis of analysis of offers.

      Under the amendments, officials and employees of an insurance agent (legal entity) directly involved in insurance mediation are forbidden from employment with another insurance intermediary. Furthermore, an insurance broker and insurance agent must inform the FCMC on suspending or ceasing insurance and reinsurance mediation services.

      The amendments stipulate penalties for proven violations, including cases when an insurance or reinsurance agent violates anti-money laundering laws, where the FCMC is entitled to impose a money penalty up to LVL 100,000.

      Additional information:

      Anete Rubene

      e-mail: anete.rubene@sorainen.lv

      Sell-out mechanism for minority shareholders

      As harmonization of Estonian securities regulation with the Takeover Bids Directive (2004/25/EC “the Takeover Directive”) was finalized November 2007 with enactment of amendments to the Securities Market Act (“the SMA”), a sell-out mechanism was introduced providing additional rights for minority shareholders in Estonian companies listed on the regulated market.

      Under the revised SMA, minority shareholders of a company may use their sell-out right to compel a shareholder directly or indirectly acquiring at least 90% of the shares of the company during a takeover bid to purchase their shares. The precondition to this rule is that minority shareholders’ shares must be sold at a fair price. The statutory minimum fair price is set at the highest value paid for the share of the company during the last six months; however, a higher price can also be offered.

      This new protection provides a symmetrical balance for minority shareholders in correlation to the existing right established for majority shareholders holding 90% of the shares of the target company to squeeze out the minority. The sell-out rule provides minority shareholders with a three-month period to decide whether to sell their shares. The protection is enacted explicitly for shareholders who have opposed a takeover or who are indecisive about selling their shares. It will also enable them to receive the highest consideration for their shares in the target company.

      The Takeover Directive creates a common set of rules for all EU Member States and thus promotes the idea of unifying the Common Market. Entrepreneurs can rely on the same possibilities tackling probable threats while acquiring companies through takeovers pan-Europe. However, it must be noted that the 90% threshold for exercising the sellout (or squeeze-out) right may vary by jurisdiction to a maximum of 95% in some Member States. The new regulation only applies to shareholders of companies listed on the local regulated market.

      Additional information: Stefano Grace

      e-mail: stefano.grace@sorainen.ee

      New regulations on lease of land owned by the state and municipalities

      On 30.10.2007, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted new regulations on lease of land owned by the state and municipalities.

      These Regulations on lease of state and municipal land establish a procedure for determining the amount of lease payments on land plots with construction not assigned for privatization or alienation, lease of vacant land plots owned by the state or municipality, and lease of land plots with construction assigned for privatization or alienation.

      A lease payment is determined to be in an amount no less than 1.5 % of the land plot’s value established for the purposes of privatization. Expenses for establishing the value are paid by the lessee when concluding the lease agreement. In addition to these lease payments the lessee has to pay all related taxes including immovable property tax.

      The Regulations also stipulate provisions compelling owners of buildings located on land plots owned by the state or municipalities to register the buildings with the Land Book as an independent property.

      The amount of lease payment is multiplied by 1.5 if buildings located on the land plot are not registered with the Land Book but should be registered according to the Law On Recording of Immovable Property in the Land Book. The same applies if the title transfer of the buildings is not registered with the Land Book. Lease agreements, concluded before these Regulations came into force, remain valid and the amount of lease payment may be increased according to the regulations only if the right is explicitly provided to the lessor in the lease agreement.

      The Regulations provide that lease payments determined under these regulations may be modified not earlier than by 30.12.2009 and only if the regulations on determining the amount of lease payment for lease of state or municipality land are amended.

      Additional information:

      Lelde Lavina

      e-mail: lelde.lavina@sorainen.lv

      Corporate Income Tax law amended regarding luxury cars and groups of companies

      On 28.11.2007 changes to the law On Corporate Income Tax came into operation to further clarify expense deductions that will not be allowed in respect of motor vehicles classified as representative (luxury) motor vehicles. The amendments amend the method by which the value of a representative motor vehicle is to be calculated and also deny deductions for interest paid in respect of the purchase or lease of a representative motor vehicle. A deduction is also not allowed for losses incurred on the sale of a representative motor vehicle if the vehicle has been classified as a fixed asset but has not been depreciated for corporate income tax purposes.

      Changes were also made to the conditions associated with transfer of losses within a group of companies that includes companies registered in countries with whom Latvia has a Double Taxation Treaty or a European Economic Zone country. The changes require the relevant corporate income tax declarations for the group members to be prepared in accordance with the laws regarding preparation and auditing as applicable in their country of residence.

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      Real Estate Tax rate decreases, tax base increases

      As of 01.01.2008 the law On Real Estate Tax amendments became effective to clarify and expand the categories of real estate that will not be subject to the tax. The rate of tax applicable from 2008 has also been amended. Up to 31.12.2010 the rate of tax will be 1% of the property’s cadastral value. From 01.01. 2011 the rate will reduce to a base rate of 0.4% and municipalities will be able to impose an additional supplementary rate not exceeding 0.6% of the property’s cadastral value. The additional rate to be imposed by the municipality must be published by October of the preceding tax year. New transitional provisions apply in regard to 2008 - 2010 tax assessments. These state that if the use of the property does not change during these years, an increase in tax payable due to a new cadastral valuation is limited to an increase of no more than 25% of the tax payable in the previous year. The changes operate from 01.01.2008.

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      Excise Tax rates increase; import of oil may have additional customs procedure in free zones or warehouses

      On 01.01.2008 amendments to the law On Excise Tax came into force. With these amendments, the excise tax payable on petrol, diesel fuel, bio-diesel fuel and their mixture products were increased by approximately 8%. Excise duty on tobacco products was increased by c. a. 32.2 %. In addition to the increase in excise tax, the amendments provide that in cases where in free zones or free warehouses mineral oil products are imported, to these products may be applied not only normal processing customs procedure but also inward (temporary) processing procedure, on the condition that products will not be released for free circulation in Latvia.

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      Personal Income Tax – untaxed minimum income increases

      On 01.01.2008, Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 443 came into force. This provides that from 01.01.2008 the amount of monthly untaxed minimum income will be increased to LVL 80, whereas the monthly non-taxable amount that can be claimed for each dependant person (e.g., children, unemployed spouse) will be increased to LVL 56.

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      Personal income tax payable by self employed persons – the rate is down to 15%; increased risk of re-qualification of services contracts as employment contracts

      From 01.01.2008, those who earn their income as self employed individuals will no longer pay 25% personal income tax but 15% on this income. Amendments have also come into operation from 01.01.2008 which will allow self employed individuals having a small-scale business to alternatively choose to pay a fixed amount of personal income tax based on the level of their gross turnover rather than the 15% rate of personal income tax on their net business income.

      As a consequence of these changes, the law On Personal Income Tax has been amended with antiavoidance provisions, to introduce six criteria. If one of these is found to exist, then the Latvian State Revenue Service can reclassify a services (uz¿ïmuma) contract as an employment contract and impose 25% personal income tax and 33.09% social security contributions on the earnings from the contract. We understand that it will be the clients (i.e. ‘employer’) that will have to prove that the agreement is not ‘substance over form’ an employee – employer relationship.

      Changes to Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 41 adopted 18.12.2007on procedures for completing personal income tax declarations have simplified the process. Individuals who are filing declarations only to report non-taxable income above a certain level need only complete these sections and not the whole declaration. Taxpayers who use double entry bookkeeping will have to complete a new appendix D3. The appendix contains tables to be completed where in the prior taxation year the taxpayer suffered losses or reclassified business assets as assets for personal use.

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      Registration as a VAT payer simplified

      With amendments to the Cabinet Regulations No. 933, effective as of 01.01.2009, registration as a VAT payer will be possible upon registration of a newly established company with the Company Register of the Republic of Latvia. To register the company as a VAT payer, a legal or authorised representative of the company will have to submit to the Company Register a VAT registration form completing sections B and C. The current practice of registration as a VAT payer by submitting an application to the State Revenue Service will also continue.

      Additional information:

      Janis Taukacs

      e-mail: janis.taukacs@sorainen.lv

      Uve Zosars

      e-mail: uve.zosars@sorainen.lv