Member News

NIBC acquires SNS Securities from SNS Bank

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has advised SNS Bank on reaching an agreement with NIBC Bank on the acquisition of SNS Securities.  NIBC acquires SNS Securities from SNS Bank Clients of NIBC and SNS Securities will benefit from the combined product suite NIBC Bank NV (NIBC) and SNS Bank NV (SNS Bank) have reached an agreement on the acquisition of SNS Securities NV (SNS Securities). With this transaction, NIBC expands its service offering with capital market solutions, equity and fixed-income brokerage, research and...

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Chapter News

Agreement on Commission’s EU Data Protection Reform will Boost Digital Single Market

The European Commission put forward its EU Data Protection Reform in January 2012 to make Europe fit for the digital age (IP/12/46). Today, an agreement was found with the European Parliament and the Council, following final negotiations between the three institutions (so-called ‘trilogue’ meetings). More than 90% of Europeans say they want the same data protection rights across the EU – and regardless of where their data is processed: this will soon be a reality. The Reform package will put...

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Chapter News, New York Related News

Governor Cuomo Announces $75 Million in Grants to Local Governments for Water Infrastructure Improvements

Grants Leverage $440 Million in Water Quality Investments, Providing $284 Million in Savings for Taxpayers Governor Cuomo announced $75 million in grants to support 45 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects throughout New York State. This funding will leverage more than $440 million in total project costs to improve New York's infrastructure and is expected to save local taxpayers over $284 million through a 59 percent reduction in municipal costs. "New York invests more to protect water-quality and strengthen water...

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Member News

DS-Concept Provides Vendor Finance Program to German Fashion Retailer

DS-Concept Factoring, a global commercial finance company specializing in international non-recourse factoring, has provided a $1 million reverse factoring facility to a fashion retailer in Germany. The client, a fashion retailer with over 50 locations throughout Germany, anticipates an annual factored volume of $10MM-$15MM. With DS-Concept funding the client’s suppliers in China and Bangladesh, the foreign vendors benefit from faster funding and lower borrowing costs. With the increased working capital, the client will focus on their expansion and plans to...

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Chapter News

EU Fortifies Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity - the best defense in one of the newest theaters of war—must respond to constantly transforming targets in order to eliminate or minimize unimaginable damage to a society’s security and infrastructure. What today is mostly the stuff of science fiction could tomorrow become reality without constant cyber vigilance. The European Union aims to keep pace with cyber vulnerabilities, and on December 7, 2015, adopted EU-wide rules affecting network and information security. The new legislation will: improve cybersecurity capabilities in...

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Member News

IIE Receives 4-Star Rating by Charity Navigator for 8th Consecutive Year

The Institute of International Education was featured in CNBC as one of the top 10 charities changing the world in 2015. IIE also received Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency for the 8th year in a row. IIE is among only 2 percent of charities to receive at least 8 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that IIE outperforms most other charities in America. © 2015 Compliments of the Institute of International Education...

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Member News

FTC Assesses $1.3 Million in Penalties for Mislabeling Rayon Textiles as Bamboo

The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") announced that it filed complaints and proposed civil penalty orders totaling $1.3 million against four national retailers in connection with charges that the companies mislabeled textiles as made of "bamboo" in violation of the FTC's Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the FTC's textile rules. According to the FTC, the products, which included napkins, dresses, socks, and other clothing, were labeled as "bamboo," but actually made of rayon. The FTC alleges that these companies continued...

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Member News

New Set Of Rules On Annual Financial Statements, Consolidated Financial Statements And Related Reports

By Luca Gambini and Daniel Joseph Guiliano of Portolano Cavallo Studio Legale The Italian Government has recently enacted a new set of rules relating to “annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings” by means of Legislative Decree no. 139 of August 18, 2015 (the “Decree”), implementing Directive no. 2013/34/EU (the “Directive”). The measures set out under the Decree concern the following three areas: A. The introduction of a report on payments to the Italian government applicable...

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Chapter News

Main results: Paris UN climate change conference, COP21

From 30 November to 12 December, Paris hosted the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 11). On 12 December, the parties reached a new global agreement on climate change. The agreement presents a balanced outcome with an action plan to limit global warming 'well below' 2°C. Carole Dieschbourg, Environment Minister for...

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Chapter News

Maximising the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds to the Commission’s priorities

Today, the Commission adopted a Communication on the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to the EU's growth strategy, the Investment Plan and the Commission's priorities over the next decade. Today, the Commission adopted a Communication on the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to the EU's growth strategy, the Investment Plan and the Commission's priorities over the next decade. The report also includes the outcomes of the negotiations with all the...

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