Moscow, Russian Federation September 21, 2007
Download 4.8 Kb. Pdf ko'rish
|
- Bu sahifa navigatsiya:
- Licensing of the Operation of Hazardous Facilities
- Licensing of Underground Water Use
- Environmental Regulation
- Ecological Impact Assessment
- Environmental Protection Programs
- Regulation of Real Estate
- State Registration of Real Estate and Transactions Involving Registered Real Estate
- Regulation of the Sale and Lease of Real Estate
Anti-monopoly Regulation The anti-monopoly legislation of the Russian Federation is based primarily on the Competition Law and other federal laws and regulations governing anti-monopoly issues. The anti-monopoly legislation is intended to prevent and terminate any monopolistic operations and unfair competition. 275 In general, anti-monopoly restrictions for entities operating in Russia include, inter alia, the following: (i) prohibitions on setting and maintaining high or low monopoly prices for goods; (ii) withdrawal of goods from the market if such withdrawal results in price increases; (iii) curtailment or discontinuance of production of goods that is not economically or technologically justified if there is demand for such goods or if orders have been placed for their supply, and it is possible to continue to produce them at a profit; (iv) setting of different prices (or tariffs) for the same goods that are not economically, technologically or otherwise justified; and (v) creation of discriminatory conditions. The Competition Law requires pre-approval by the anti-monopoly authorities of the following actions: • acquisition by a person (or its group) of more than 25% of the voting shares of a joint stock company ( 1 ⁄ 3 participation interest in a limited liability company) and subsequent increase of such stakes up to more than 50% and more than 75% of the voting shares ( 1 ⁄ 2 and 2 ⁄ 3 participation interest in a limited liability company); or acquisition by a person (or its group) of the core production assets or intangible assets of an entity if the balance sheet value of such assets exceeds 20% of the total balance sheet value of the core production and intangible assets of such entity; or obtaining rights to determine the conditions of business activity of an entity or to exercise the powers of its executive body by a person (or its group), if the aggregate asset value of an acquirer (or its group) together with a target (or its group) exceeds RUB 3 billion or the total annual revenues of such acquirer (or its group) and the target (or its group) for the preceding calendar year exceed RUB 6 billion and at the same time the total asset value of the target (or its group) exceeds RUB 150 million; or if an acquirer, and/or a target, or any entity within the acquirer’s group or a target’s group are included in the Register of Entities with a Market Share in Excess of 35% in a Particular Commodity Market (the ‘‘Anti-monopoly Register’’); • mergers and consolidations of entities, if their aggregate asset value (the aggregate asset value of the groups to which they belong) exceeds RUB 3 billion; or total annual revenues of such entities (groups to which they belong) for the preceding calendar year exceed RUB 6 billion or if one of these entities is included in the Anti-monopoly Register; and • foundation of an entity, if its charter capital is paid by shares (participation interest) or assets of another entity and such newly founded entity acquires the rights in respect of such shares (participation interest) or assets as specified in item (i) above, provided that (a) the aggregate asset value of the founders (groups to which they belong) and the entities (groups to which they belong) whose shares (participation interest) and/or assets are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded entity exceeds RUB 3 billion; (b) total annual revenues of the founders (group to which they belong) and the entities (groups to which they belong) whose shares (participation interest) or assets are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded entity for the preceding calendar year exceed RUB 6 billion; or (c) if an entity whose shares (participation interest) or assets are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded entity is included in the Anti-monopoly Register. The Competition Law provides for a mandatory post-transaction notification (within 45 days of the closing) of the anti-monopoly authorities in connection with the following: (i) actions specified in item (i) above, if the aggregate asset value or total annual revenues of an acquirer (its group) and a target (its group) for the preceding calendar year exceed RUB 200 million and at the same time the total asset value of the target (its group) exceeds RUB 30 million or if an acquirer, and/or target or any entity within the acquirer’s group or a target’s group are included in the Antimonopoly Register; and (ii) actions specified in item (ii) above if their aggregate asset value or total annual revenues for the preceding calendar year exceed RUB 200 million. As a condition to issuing approvals for the above transactions, FAS may impose on the applicants certain conditions aimed at protection of competition, including restrictions on conducting business, such as limitations on prices, geographical expansion, entering into associations and agreements with competitors. Furthermore, the Competition Law establishes a regulatory framework for companies with dominant positions in certain markets aimed at protecting competition in such markets. The Competition Law establishes several criteria for determining whether an entity together with its group has a dominant position in a particular commodity market. An entity holding a dominant position in a particular commodity market is prohibited from abusing such a position through, among other things, fixing or 276 maintaining a monopolistically high or low price of goods or creating discriminatory conditions. FAS is also authorized to issue binding orders to companies violating the applicable anti-monopoly regimes (including orders requiring a spin-off or split up of business). The Electricity Industry Law sets forth specific anti-monopoly regulations in relation to the wholesale and retail electricity markets. The purpose of such rules is to prevent price manipulation, agreements between electricity sellers regarding establishment and maintenance of unfair prices and discriminatory or unjustified refusal to supply electricity or render services in the electricity market. The participants in the wholesale and retail markets (except for household consumers) are required to provide to the FAS and its regional divisions information specified in the applicable rules of disclosure of information by the participants in the wholesale and retail electricity markets (see ‘‘— Electricity Industry Regulation — Disclosure of Information in the Wholesale Electricity Market’’) and to provide unlimited access to any other business information. With respect to an electricity seller or a group of sellers that owns generating facilities with installed electric capacity that accounts for 35% or more of the installed electric capacity of the facilities within one pricing zone and takes coordinated actions in violation of anti-monopoly regulations or otherwise violate anti-monopoly regulations, the Russian government may take the following measures: • introduce state regulation of prices (tariffs) for a period of up to six months; and • require the split-up of the electricity seller which owns generating facilities with installed electric capacity that accounts for 35% or more of the installed electric capacity of the facilities within one pricing zone. Licensing of Operations The Subsidiaries are required to obtain certain licenses, authorizations and permits from Russian governmental authorities for their operations. In particular, many of the Subsidiaries require licenses for the operation of hazardous industrial facilities. It is anticipated that the licensing regime for the operation of hazardous industrial facilities will be replaced by technical regulations issued under the Federal Law of December 27, 2002 ‘‘On Technical Regulation’’, as amended (the ‘‘Technical Regulation Law’’). As of the date of this Information Statement, these technical regulations have not been introduced, and the operation of hazardous industrial facilities continues to be conducted on the basis of licenses issued under the Licensing Law and the regulations introduced thereunder (the ‘‘Licensing Regulations’’). Licensing of the Operation of Hazardous Facilities Licenses for the operation of hazardous industrial facilities are issued by the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision. This authority also monitors compliance with legislation governing atmospherical emissions and waste management, sets limits on waste disposal and maintains a register of hazardous industrial facilities. Under the Licensing Law and the Licensing Regulations, licenses are issued for a term of five years and may be extended upon the application of the licensee. The issuance of the license is subject to completion of an industrial safety declaration and a state industrial safety review. See ‘‘—Health and Safety’’. In the event that a licensee breaches the terms of its license, the licensing authorities may seek a court order to suspend that license. If, following a suspension of that license, the licensee fails to cure the relevant breach within the prescribed period, the licensing authorities may seek a court order to terminate that license. Licensing of Underground Water Use Users of underground water resources in the Russia require a subsoil license issued under the Law ‘‘On Subsoil’’ No. 2395-1 dated February 21, 1992, as amended (the ‘‘Subsoil Law’’), and the regulations adopted thereunder. Licenses for use of underground water are currently issued by the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use following a decision process which involves representatives of the federal and regional subsoil authorities. Licenses may be granted for a term of up to twenty five years. The conditions of a 277 subsoil license, including its term, may only be amended by further application to the licensing authorities. The user must also enter into an agreement with the licensing authorities which sets out further terms of use of the relevant resources. In addition, the licensee is required to hold a right of use (through ownership, lease or otherwise) to the land plot where the licensed deposit is located. In the event of repeated breaches by the licensee of the applicable regulations or the material terms of the license, as well as upon the occurrence of certain emergency situations, the licensing authorities may amend, suspend or terminate the license, and such breaches may also result in the imposition of fines. The Water Code of the Russian Federation No. 74-FZ dated June 3, 2006, which came into force on January 1, 2007 (the ‘‘Water Code’’), does not require licensing of surface water use. However, previously issued licenses remain in force until their expiration. Under the Water Code, surface water use may be effected either on the basis of (i) a water use agreement concluded with state or local authorities, (ii) a decision of state or local authorities on granting rights to the use of surface water or (iii) without any such agreements or decisions, depending on the purpose of surface water use. An agreement on water use may be concluded for a period of up to 20 years. Technical Regulation The Technical Regulation Law introduces new rules relating to the development, enactment, application and enforcement of mandatory requirements concerning products, the manufacturing, storage, transportation, selling and utilization of products and processes and the instruments regulating the quality of products and processes, such as technical regulations, standards and certification. One of the methods of ensuring consistent quality product and service, as well as improving customer satisfaction, is the establishment of an effective management system for the Subsidiaries, based on the introduction of quality management systems in accordance with ISO 9000:2000 international standards and equivalent Russian standards. Technical regulations set forth mandatory requirements for different products and processes. In addition, detailed characteristics of different products and processes are established according to national standards and standards of organizations. Following their adoption, technical regulations and standards will replace the previously adopted state standards (the ‘‘GOSTs’’). Since, however, most technical regulations have not yet been adopted, the existing federal laws and regulations, including GOSTs, establishing requirements for different products and processes shall remain mandatory to the extent they facilitate protection of heath, life, property and environment and prevent actions which may mislead consumers. Moreover, the federal standardization authority, Roscomstandard, has declared GOSTs and interstate standards adopted before July 1, 2003 as national standards. Compliance with the requirements of technical regulations, standards and terms of contracts is confirmed by mandatory or voluntary certification. Mandatory certification is given through either the issuance of a compliance certificate or the certification by the respective authority of a compliance declaration. Mandatory certification confirms compliance only with the requirements of a technical regulation and only when such certification is prescribed by the respective technical regulation. Such technical regulations have not been adopted yet, and currently the list of products subject to obligatory certification is established by Government Resolution No. 1013 dated August 13, 1997, as amended. Electricity is currently included in this list. In contrast, a voluntary certification is carried out at the request of a particular company and is done so in order to confirm the compliance of products and processes with the requirements of different standards and terms of contracts. Voluntary certification is carried out by an authorized certifying authority, which issues a compliance certificate and grants to an applicant the right to use a compliance mark. Environmental Regulation The Subsidiaries are subject to laws, regulations and other legal requirements relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of substances into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste, the clean-up of contaminated sites and the protection of flora and fauna. Environmental protection in Russia is regulated primarily by the Federal 278 Law ‘‘On Environmental Protection’’ No. 7-FZ dated January 10, 2002, as amended (the ‘‘Environmental Protection Law’’), as well as by a number of other federal and local legal acts. The Russian government, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Federal Service for Supervision of Use of Natural Resources, the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, the Federal Service for Hydrometrology and Environmental Monitoring, the Federal Agency on Subsoil Use, the Federal Agency on Forestry and the Federal Agency on Water Resources (along with their regional branches), as well as other state authorities and public and non-governmental organizations, are responsible for the monitoring, implementation and enforcement of relevant environmental laws and regulations. Pay-to-pollute The Environmental Protection Law establishes a ‘‘pay-to-pollute’’ regime administered by federal and local authorities. Additional payment obligations may arise under the Water Code, the Federal Law ‘‘On the Wastes of Production and Consumption’’ No. 89-FZ dated June 24, 1998, as amended, and the Federal Law ‘‘On Atmospheric Air Protection’’ No. 96-FZ dated May 4, 1999, as amended. The Russian government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision have established standards which govern the permissible impact of industrial and other business activities on the environment. They have also determined limits for emissions and disposal of hazardous substances, waste disposal and soil and subsoil contamination. Companies must develop their own pollution standards on the basis of these statutory standards, as modified to take into account the type and scale of the environmental impact of their operations. These standards must then be submitted for approval by the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, which, in the event that those standards do not comply with the relevant regulations, may itself determine the applicable limit for pollution and require the company to prepare and submit a program for the reduction of emissions or disposals to the prescribed limit. The emission reduction program is generally required to be implemented within a specified period. If, by the end of that period, the company still exceeds the prescribed limit, a new emission reduction program must be submitted for approval. Payments are assessed on a sliding scale, ranging from pollution within the standards (the lowest fees) through pollution within individually approved limits (higher fees) to pollution in excess of those limits (the highest fees). Payments must be made on a quarterly basis, and any failure to make such payments when due may lead to an administrative fine of up to RUB 10,000. These payments do not relieve the relevant company from its responsibility to implement environmental protection measures and undertake restoration and clean-up activities. Enforcement Authorities The Federal Service for the Supervision of the Use of Natural Resources, the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, the Federal Service for Hydrometrology and Environmental Monitoring, the Federal Agency on Subsoil Use, the Federal Agency on Forestry and the Federal Agency on Water Resources (along with their regional branches) are involved in environmental control and the implementation and enforcement of relevant laws and regulations. The Russian government, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, is responsible for coordinating the activities of the regulatory authorities in this area. Such regulatory authorities, along with other state authorities, individuals and public and non-governmental organizations, also have the right to initiate lawsuits for compensation for damage caused to the environment. Ecological Impact Assessment A company intending to conduct activities that may have an adverse impact on the environment must perform an ecological impact assessment of those activities in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law and certain ancillary regulations. The authorities are also required to assess those activities to develop a program to ensure compliance with applicable environmental legislation. A failure to obtain the required assessments or any subsequent non-compliance with the prescribed program may result in administrative fines of up to RUB 15,000, as well as certain other liabilities. See ‘‘—Environmental Liability’’. 279 Environmental Liability If the operations of a company breach environmental requirements or cause harm to the environment or any individual or legal entity, a court action may be brought to limit or prohibit those operations and require the company to remedy the effects of the breach. The statute of limitations for such actions is 20 years. Any company and/or the employees of such company that fail to comply with environmental regulations may be subject to administrative and/or civil liability, including fines and clean-up orders, and individuals may also incur criminal liability in such circumstances. Certain Subsidiaries have, in the past, been subject to fines in relation to breaches of environmental regulations. Although no court actions or fines have had, individually or in aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Subsidiaries or their business and results of operations, there can be no assurance that any such court actions or fines will not have a material effect on the Subsidiaries in the future. Environmental Protection Programs Each of the Subsidiaries has been developing and implementing environmental protection programs, either its own programs or within the framework of the RAO UES Group’s programs, in order to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. These programs have included the introduction of new industrial technologies, the repair and reconstruction of industrial water supply systems, and the recycling of water. Regulation of Real Estate At the present time, most land in Russia is owned by the state or the Russian regions and municipalities, and only a small proportion of land is in private ownership. A relatively higher proportion of buildings and similar real estate is privately owned due to less restrictive regulatory regime which applies to such assets. Land Use Rights Russian legislation prohibits the conducting of any commercial activity on a land plot without appropriate land use rights. Under the Land Code of the Russian Federation No. 136-FZ dated October 25, 2001, as amended (the ‘‘Land Code’’), companies generally have one of the following rights to the use of land in the Russian Federation: (1) ownership; (2) right of free use for a fixed term; or (3) lease. A majority of land plots in the Russian Federation are owned by federal, regional or municipal authorities, which, through public auctions or tenders or through private negotiations, can sell, lease or grant other use rights to the land to third parties. Companies that obtained the right to perpetually use a given plot of land prior to the enactment of the Land Code are required, by January 1, 2008, either to purchase the land from, or to enter into a lease agreement with, the relevant federal, regional or municipal authority owning the land. Details of land plots, including their measurements and boundaries, are recorded in a unified register, or cadastre. As a general rule, a state cadastre number must be obtained for a land plot as a condition to selling, leasing or otherwise transferring interests in that plot. As described below, a separate register is maintained for the registration of all real estate and transactions relating to that real estate. All land is categorized as having a particular designated purpose, for example agricultural land, land for use by industrial enterprises, power companies and communication companies, land for military purposes, forestry land and reserved land (i.e. land which is owned by the state but which may be transferred to any of the other categories). Land may only be used in accordance with the purpose designated by the relevant category. Under the Land Code, land plots owned by the state or municipalities may generally be sold or leased to Russian and foreign individuals or legal entities. However, certain land plots owned by the state may not be sold or leased to the private sector and are referred to as being ‘‘withdrawn from commerce’’ (for example, natural reserves and land used for military purposes). Other land plots may be subject to ownership restrictions which stipulate that such plots may be held by the private sector only under a lease (for example, land reserved for cultural heritage). 280 Most of the Subsidiaries’ facilities are situated on energy land. In accordance with the Land Code, energy land must be used for the operation of energy facilities. Land plots can be provided for: • hydroelectric stations, nuclear power stations, nuclear material and radioactive substance storage facilities, radioactive waste storage facilities, thermal generation stations and other generation stations, as well as structures and facilities servicing them; or • facilities of the electricity network sector and other electricity facilities as provided by the Russian electricity laws. Under Russian law, it is possible that the ownership rights to a building and the land plot on which it is constructed may not be held by the same person or entity. In such circumstances, the owner of that building, as a general rule, has the right of permanent use over the relevant portion of that plot of land, unless otherwise determined by law, contract or the regulatory decision which determined the allocation of that plot of land. Moreover, an owner of a building or plot of land may request that the owner of an adjoining plot of land grant rights in favor of that first owner. In addition, federal, regional or municipal authorities may exercise similar rights in the interests of the state, municipality or local population. State Registration of Real Estate and Transactions Involving Registered Real Estate The Federal Registration Service maintains the Unified State Register of Rights to Immovable Property and Transactions Therewith (the ‘‘Register of Rights’’). Under the Federal Law ‘‘On State Registration of Rights to Immovable Property and Transactions Therewith’’ No. 122-FZ dated July 21, 1997, as amended, registration with the Register of Rights is, among other things, required for: (i) buildings, facilities, land plots and other real estate; and (ii) specified transactions involving such registered real estate, including the establishment of trusts, sales, mortgages, as well as leases for a term of not less than one year. Registration is effected in the Russian region where the property is located, and rights to the relevant real estate are acquired only upon such state registration. A failure to register a transaction which requires state registration generally results in the transaction being rendered null and void. Regulation of the Sale and Lease of Real Estate The Civil Code requires that agreements for the sale or lease of buildings expressly set out the price of such sale or lease. In relation to leases, both the rights granted by the lease and the lease agreement (other than lease agreements for a term of less than one year) require registration. In relation to sales, only the transfer of ownership effected by the relevant sale (but not the sale agreement itself) requires registration. Download 4.8 Kb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
Ma'lumotlar bazasi mualliflik huquqi bilan himoyalangan ©fayllar.org 2024
ma'muriyatiga murojaat qiling
ma'muriyatiga murojaat qiling