The Legal 500

The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations) came into force in December 2007 and implements Directive 2005/56/EC of the European Parliament and Council on cross-border mergers of limited liability companies. The Regulations provide for the merging of any two public or private limited liability companies resident in the EU (providing such a merger is permitted under the relevant domestic law of a company) and introduce the concept of a ‘true merger’ to the English legal system. Whereas previously in the UK mergers could only be effected by transferring the individual assets and liabilities of the transferor under a traditional business sale and purchase agreement mechanism, the Regulations now allow for the automatic transfer of all assets and liabilities of a transferor by operation of law. Although this is a relatively new process, and to date only a handful of the mergers have been affected, there are signs that an increasing number of companies are now opting to carry out reorganisations of their groups using the new cross-border merger process.

Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2011 is a general guide for companies operating in or considering investment into Azerbaijan. It is intended to present an overview of the key aspects of the Azerbaijani legal system and regulation of business activities in this country.

On 16 March 2011, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan enacted Resolution No. 43 approving the Rules for Negotiating and Entering into an Agreement Concerning Registration of Branches and Representative Offices of Foreign Non-Commercial Legal Entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan (the"Rules").

On April 17, 2009, Law No. 766-IIIQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan, On Application of Special Economic Regime to Export Oil and Gas Operations, dated February 2, 2009 (the “Law”), was promulgated. It is understood that the Law is issued in an attempt by the Republic of Azerbaijan to promote exportation, especially, to the Caspian littoral states, of oil and gas infrastructure and expertise accumulated in Azerbaijan over the past years. On November 1, 2009, Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, On Providing for Implementation of the Law, dated October 30, 2009, was promulgated.

Doing Business in Azerbaijan has been prepared as a general guide for companies operating in or considering investment into Azerbaijan. It is intended to present an overview of the key aspects of the Azerbaijani legal system and regulation of business activities in this country.