Turkish corporates have increasingly utilised international debt markets in the last decade, particularly in the infrastructure and energy sectors. These corporates are now under pressure due to recent political instability and depreciation of the Turkish lira. Restructuring candidates in 2014 have included Yuksel, the construction company which was last in discussions with bondholders and local lenders mid-year. Below we take a look at key legal issues for loan traders in Turkey.
This Update is produced on a monthly basis. It provides an update on new legislation in certain Middle East countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates) where SNR Denton has offices. We also include Turkey and Lebanon updates from our affiliate and associate firms in Istanbul and Beirut respectively.
A foreign creditor has the right to initiate a lawsuit or an enforcement proceeding against a debtor in Turkey even if there is no reciprocal agreement between Turkey and the creditor's own jurisdiction.
In Cukurova Finance International Ltd v Alfa Telecom Turkey Ltd [2013] UKPC 2, the Privy Council held that a borrower may claim relief from forfeiture notwithstanding that the forfeited security has been appropriated by the lender in satisfaction of a debt.
Over the last few years Spain has amended its insolvency laws to promote
out of court refinancing arrangements as a much needed alternative
to formal insolvency proceedings. The outcome of these changes,
aimed at putting Spain on a par with other EU jurisdictions, is yet to be
seen. However, what is clear is that the latest round of amendments
has substantially improved the possibility of reaching an out of court
refinancing settlement in Spain.
Historically, in relation to syndicated facilities, out of court refinancing
Recent development
Seeking to ensure that the market has sufficient available liquidity following the recent political and economic developments in Turkey, the Central Bank of Turkey (the "Central Bank") reduced the Turkish banks' reserve requirements for Turkish lira liabilities on August 10, 2016. The changes will take effect on August 12, 2016.
New TRY reserve requirements
The Central Bank has reduced the reserve requirement ratios for banks' Turkish Lira ("TRY") liabilities by 50 basis points for each maturity bracket:
Maturity New Ratios Previous Ratios
Recent Development
On July 31, 2016, the Council of Ministers issued the third executive order on the implementation of the current state of emergency ("Executive Order"). The Executive Order amends several laws and regulations; discharges certain members of the military linked to the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO); establishes a national defense university; introduces rules related to the education system of the members of the military; and prohibits the implementation of the bankruptcy suspension mechanism for companies.
Recent development
Recent Development
Recent Development
The Law on the Amendments to the Code of Enforcement and Bankruptcy and Certain Laws ("Law No. 7101") was published on the Official Gazette on March 15, 2018.
Background
As a result of the studies conducted by the Coordination Council for the Improvement of the Investment Environment, the Law No. 7101 was introduced to the Turkish Parliament.