Financing transactions and FDI in Slovakia: could foreign creditors be caught?

Security package

The establishment of a pledge over shares or assets of a Slovak company may qualify as a foreign investment if the pledge agreement grants specific rights to the pledgee regarding the company's business decisions. The mere establishment of the pledge itself could potentially trigger FDI screening.

Enforcement of security

Even if the initial establishment of a pledge did not trigger FDI screening, the enforcement of that pledge might. This should be evaluated from an FDI perspective, treating it as a standard M&A transaction.

Convertible rights

Convertible bonds or financing arrangements involving the acquisition of an equity stake in a borrower can trigger FDI screening in Slovakia. The screening occurs when the equity stake is acquired.

Acquisition finance

While the security package, enforcement of security and convertible rights apply only to non-EU creditors, certain M&A transactions involving intra-EU investors can also be subject to Slovak FDI screening if the financing is secured through funds provided by a third-country public authority or an entity with equity participation from a third country (such as the Norwegian Sovereign Fund).

What to consider

Is a there a non-EU element to your finance transaction, like a non-EU security agent or security agent with its ultimate beneficial owner outside the EU? Does your security agreement grant specific rights to the pledgee regarding the business decisions of the Slovak company?

Representations should be requested from investors regarding financing from public authorities. It is also worth noting that the enforcement of a pledge and convertible rights constitute an M&A transaction from the perspective of FDI screening.

authors: Soňa Hekelová, Michal Lučivjanský