By Karen A. Tramontano To understand where the 2018 U.S. midterm elections may be headed, it helps to understand what voters were doing in 2016. Conventional wisdom holds that voters were angry and that only Trump understood that voters were angry—and it was these angry voters who determined the election’s outcome. What pundits fail to acknowledge is that a significant percentage of voters in every election are angry and most, if not all, candidates understand why they are angry. Typically, candidates try...

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After a brief break higher in August in response to the situation in Turkey and global trade uncertainty, September saw the USD trade essentially the same range as July. The fading of trade concerns removed the bid from the USD in late August and early September, and the more positive equity market tone generally worked against the USD versus both emerging markets and the EUR and GBP, in part because of the correlation of European equity markets with emerging...

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The Ecofin agreed on several VAT measures fixing some practical issues currently affecting EU trade of goods. In addition, the Ecofin decided to align the VAT rates for electronic and physical publications and reached agreement on some new anti-fraud measures. 1. Quick-fixes Four 'Quick-fixes’ are introduced to the VAT-system, improving cross-border Business to Business trade in goods within the EU. These adjustments will apply from 1 January 2020. VAT identification number / EC sales listing - additional conditions to apply the...

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By Carlie Bonavia | TMF Group Most procedures for establishing a new entity in the Netherlands are quite straightforward, but in some areas, complexity levels for foreign companies can skyrocket. When it comes to the best countries in the world for business, the Netherlands is in an enviable 3rd position. However, it’s ranked among the 20 most complex jurisdictions in the world when examined specifically for its level of corporate compliance complexity. This is according to TMF Group’s Compliance Complexity Index 2018, which assessed...

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By Mark Overmann | Vice President of External Affairs | InterExchange   Happy Global Goals Week! In support of this vital effort, InterExchange has launched our Sustain Grant, which includes full funding for select participants in our Sustainable Action Costa Rica program.   Sustainable Action Costa Rica, which will take place January 5-13, 2019, is a specialized 8-day experiential tour of Costa Rica focusing on hands-on education in social and environmental sustainability. The program will engage American students and graduates with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs...

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By John M. Mercury & Jonathan McCullough The outlook for private equity investment in Canada is promising. The country has become an attractive destination for foreign investors, and the total value of PE deals continues to reach new heights. A strong Canadian economy is good news for Canadian companies and investors. What are the motivations and experiences of PE firms doing deals in Canada? What is driving their decisions to move ahead and invest, or to hold and take a closer look? To better understand this, Bennett Jones commissioned Mergermarket to...

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Nadia Bonnet | Avocat à la Cour | Arendt & Medernach The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”) is aimed at increasing investor protection, creating a common set of rules for the authorization, organization, operation and supervision of asset managers, improving risk management by asset managers and creating a single market for alternative investment funds within the European Union (“EU”). Due to its extraterritorial reach; to date the AIFMD is the most significant piece of regulation affecting the private funds industry...

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Germany is one of the most rule-bound countries in the world. The bureaucracy and the language can be quite daunting to a newcomer. Just ask some of the recently arrived refugees from Syria. This article originally appeared on GlobalTradeMag.com. German media reported that refugees were surprised by the long waits in line and approvals needed to get housing, health care and a bank account. One was quoted saying he didn’t know what he was signing because the application for a subsidized...

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VULCAN VIEW KEY EVENTS OF THE WEEK 17th - 21st OF SEPTEMBER EU COUNCIL SUMMIT Austrian Presidency of the European Council hosts Salzburg summitThis week the 28 EU leaders met for an informal summit in Salzburg Austria, the birthplace of Mozart, and the first major gathering to take place under the Austrian Presidency of the European Council. The summit addressed the contentious issue of migration, with Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kutz, reporting on the progress of conclusions relating to migration adopted by leaders at...

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