The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced the annual changes to the thresholds contained in section 7A (Hart-Scott-Rodino) and section 8 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 18a, 19) (Interlocking Directors). The new HSR thresholds apply to any transaction that closes 30 days after publication of the new thresholds in the Federal Register, while the new section 8 thresholds take effect immediately. Hart-Scott-Rodino The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, section 7A of the Clayton Act, requires companies proposing a merger or acquisition...

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Kiddie Tax Reverts to More Favorable Rate The SECURE Act, signed into law on December 20, 2019, had an impact on a wide range of taxpayers – from retirees all the way down to children. The Act repealed the increased kiddie tax rate imposed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Under the TCJA, a child’s unearned income was taxed at the much higher trust and estate tax rate. The new legislation brings back pre-TCJA rules, which tax this income...

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The German government seeks to promote the prospering of the German economy as finding skilled employees from the German labour market becomes more difficult for many employers, especially in the industries of nursing care (the care provided in hospitals and for elderly people), IT, and in the craft sector. While stressing the importance of acquiring domestic employees, the government’s proposed solution for these labour market difficulties is an easier immigration process for skilled workers from non-European Economic Area (EEA)...

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Change is difficult – but 2019 taught us that it’s possible. Here’s how to change big organisations to cope with a new reality. At a well-attended event organised this April in Berlin by the Institute for European Policy to boost young voter turnout, I commented to the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, “Look, this proves that young people can be mobilized for a good cause!” To which the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier responded: “Yes, that is true. But much more importantly,...

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EU chiefs sign off on Brexit deal, but what's next? The House of Commons passed legislation implementing the withdrawal deal on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Johnson saying that the UK had ‘crossed the Brexit finish line’. The House of Commons rejected all five amendments to the Withdrawal Bill proposed by the House of Lords, with the government winning by large majorities. In one of its first significant acts of business since returning earlier this month, Northern Ireland’s Assembly voted overwhelmingly...

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Keeping up to date with evolving trends in the technology space helps organisations stay competitive. While many are focussing on areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cyber-security, we look at some of the other evolving trends that organisations should be aware of in 2020. 5G Mobile Networks We expect the fifth generation of mobile network technology (5G) to become mainstream in 2020. The 5G roll out is exciting businesses and consumers alike as it has the potential to facilitate a...

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The food and agriculture industry includes farms, restaurants and food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities. Companies within the food and ag industry seek to employ talented professionals, such as scientists, veterinarians and engineers, to bring food to the table in a changing world. With a focus on talent, food and ag companies must understand the employment-based immigration factors that affect their U.S. workforces, as talented job candidates come from all over the world. Especially in periods of low unemployment,...

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Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Phillip Durham has been named practice group leader of the firm's Asset Finance Group. "Phil is a natural fit as leader of our Asset Finance Group," said James McDermott, leader of Holland & Knight's Business Section. "His reputation in the industry is unsurpassed, and he brings a wealth of experience and demonstrated leadership to guide our team in the ever-changing global financial market." Mr. Durham focuses his practice on domestic and cross-border asset...

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The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") issued final regulations on January 13, 2020 to comprehensively implement the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 ("FIRRMA") (the "Regulations"). The Regulations will become effective on February 13, 2020. CFIUS's existing regulations will continue to apply to transactions that close, or for which a definitive written agreement is signed, before February 13. CFIUS issued proposed rules to implement FIRRMA (the "Proposed Rules") in September 2019 (see our September 2019 alert),...

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General Election in Ireland kicks off Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ended weeks of speculation on Tuesday as went to the President to ask him to dissolve parliament, paving the way for a general election on Saturday, February 8. His Fine Gael-led minority government served in power for four years, with support from the main opposition party Fianna Fáil, through a ‘Confidence and Supply’ agreement. With the immediate risk of a ‘no deal Brexit’ averted through the passing of the Withdrawal Agreement,...

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