Welcome to our little Swiss Dish. Where we give you insights of Switzerland’s economy in a cheesy way. Wear your safety vest and sunscreen, as in this publication we travel on water. Travelling by boat: Switzerland’s infrastructure offers many varieties to travel to work or for leisure. Did you know that many Swiss citizens take the fairy to cross from one end of the lake to the other to commute to work? Many use the opportunity to avoid the rush...

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EU reaches milestone deal to curtail methane emissions Earlier this week, the European Commission welcomed a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and Council on a groundbreaking EU regulation designed to mitigate methane emissions both within Europe and globally. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change, is targeted by the accord as a crucial element in achieving the European Green Deal's commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Keep reading. EU negotiators reach provisional agreement...

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Coalition across sectors seeks to position the United States to more effectively attract a greater and more diverse population of international students and ensure their success Washington, D.C., November 14, 2023 — Last week, 11 education organizations, think tanks, and advocates launched the U.S. for Success coalition to foster international student success in the United States through a coordinated national effort. The coalition will work in partnership with the U.S. government, higher education institutions, the business sector, and other key partners...

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In October, the Trepp CMBS Delinquency Rate rose 24 basis points to 4.63%, with significant fluctuation across the five major property types. Each sector’s respective rate either rose or fell by more than 15 basis points, with two in particular experiencing substantial increases. The multifamily rate rose 79 basis points to 2.64%, after two consecutive months of only a 1 basis point increase. This is the highest month-over-month increase for the property type since November of last year.  Most surprising, however, was...

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The key developments of the report are summarized below. Later-Stage Valuations Drop Q3 2023 saw a decline in start-up valuations across multiple stages, especially for Series B and Series C and later companies, which retreated to five-year lows. Despite the decline, Seed stage 2023 valuations continue to fare better and are on track to surpass 2022's record-setting levels. Mixed Results for Early and Late-Stage Fundraise Amounts In Q3 2023, Series Seed to Series B start-ups experienced a decline in fundraising amounts after Q2’s...

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The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) presents both unique opportunities and challenges for trademark and brand owners. By harnessing AI’s potential, businesses can accelerate the branding process by generating unique, brandable company and product names, logos and slogans tailored to specific industries and company values. However, with these advantages come several risks, including the potential for trademark infringement and dilution of established brands. The Power of Branding Trademarks are powerful tools for businesses to distinguish the origin of their goods...

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Contractors must now accelerate profitable growth Although the defense industry’s pool of economic profit (EP) experienced a sharp decline in 2022 and only a partial recovery through three quarters of 2023 results, investors are still bullish on the sector and expect strong medium- to long-term profit growth. 2022 was a rough year for defense profitability, as the industry experienced a 40% EP decline vs. 2021. The performance reversed the steady 3% EP CAGR recorded in the five years through 2021. With three...

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Certain non-spouse beneficiaries of inherited IRAs will need to begin taking annual RMDs from those accounts beginning in 2024 to satisfy the SECURE Act’s 10-year rule, which requires the liquidation of those accounts within 10 years of the original owner’s death. While the law eliminating stretch IRAS was passed in 2019, the IRS has since delayed the start date three times. Consequently, affected beneficiaries could find themselves saddled with higher-than-expected withdrawal requirements that could leave them with higher tax...

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Bennett Jones is pleased to announce that its partners have elected John M. Mercury as the next Executive Chair of the firm and Dominique T. Hussey as the next Chief Executive Officer. They will assume their new roles on January 1, 2024. They will succeed Hugh L. MacKinnon KC, who has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 2005. John has held several leadership positions with the firm, including more than 11 years on the Partnership Board, as Lead Director of...

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Geopolitical risk is currently front and center for executive management and boards. The war in Ukraine and accompanying geopolitical disruptions are an action-forcing event for nearly every multinational company and investor, regardless of the size of the business or portfolio at risk. At FCLTGlobal’s recent executive summit, executives identified a need for frameworks and risk analysis tool kits to expand awareness of what boards and management teams can do to navigate fast-paced, highly uncertain changes in the global marketplace...

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