Chapter News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

TTIP Stakeholder Survey 2014: Atlantic Council & Bertelsmann Foundation

In the wake of the recently concluded stock-taking meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Atlantic Council invite you to participate in a stakeholder survey on your views of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the sticking points in the negotiations. The results will serve as a follow-up to the data presented in our March 2013 publication, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): Ambitious, but...

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Member News, News

NYC Loan to Be Refinanced – Early Payoff Would Take Out 98% of 2005 Class

If you are not already running the $194.2 million 909 Third Avenue loan to payoff at first open, you probably should, especially if you're looking at the A-4 class. According to a report in Friday's Commercial Mortgage Alert, Ladder Capital has been tabbed to refinance the loan. According to the article, it will most likely be securitized as a stand-alone, fixed rate deal over the next few weeks. The loan's open period is longer than many: it is slated to mature in April 2015 but can...

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Chapter News, News

Opportunities from Globalization for European Companies

Karel De Gucht | European Commissioner for Trade | High-level conference "Spain: from Stability to Growth" | Bilbao, Spain, 3 March 2014 Ladies and gentlemen, The fact that we are meeting here, in the Guggenheim Museum, is highly appropriate for our theme. This remarkable building – designed by an American and brought to life here in Bilbao – is a symbol, the world over… … of what creativity, technology and genius can achieve in architecture... … and what urban communities can do to put...

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Chapter News, News

President Barroso will attend interactive debate with citizens on their wishes for Europe’s future

Tomorrow (4 March) European Commission President Barroso will take part in an interactive debate with citizens, hosted by the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, and featuring also European Parliament President Martin Schulz. The debate, entitled 'Your wish list for Europe', will be sparked by contributions from EU citizens, who will outline what they expect from Europe in the future. The debate takes place in the European Parliament on Tuesday, 4 March, from 9.00-11.30 CET. It will be streamed live on...

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Member News, News

Pepper Hamilton Client Alert: California Replaces its Limited Liability Company Act

On January 1, 2014, the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (the New Act) replaced California’s Beverly-Killea Limited Liability Company Act (Beverly-Killea), which was adopted in 1994. The New Act is intended to bring California’s laws more in line with the laws of other states while also clarifying certain issues that existed under Beverly-Killea. Existing and future California LLCs are subject to the New Act. Thus, it is important that operating agreements drafted prior to 2014 be reviewed, and...

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Member News, News

Austrian Researchers Develop Sensor Dyes

Laboratory coats which can change color and warn people of poisonous gases, bandaging materials which show that the patient has an infection and bath gloves which detect chemical additives in bathwater are potential examples of intelligent textiles which can show dangers in different colors, and thus contribute to achieving greater occupational safety. The dyes were researched and produced by Joanneum Research in Weiz, according to a report published by the Austrian Press Agency. Sensor textiles as a warning signal. A sensor...

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Member News, News

Baxter Expands its Business Operations in Austria

The American pharmaceutical and biotech company Baxter plans to invest EUR 80 million in the facilities it operates in Vienna and Orth, Lower Austria. This amount is in addition to the EUR 138 million which will be invested at the plant in Krems, Lower Austria over the coming years. In this way, Baxter is “sustainably securing the future of its Austrian business operations”, says Karl-Heinz Hofbauer, Baxter’s Operations Manager in Vienna. Baxter continuously invests to upgrade its Austrian sites. In...

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Member News, News

Granito Goes Social

Granito Corporate Advisories announces the creation of a corporate social learning platform. This instructional platform's goal is to enable small and mid-size companies to stabilize and develop staff talent and facilitate growth, especially those looking to internationalize. It is designed especially for companies currently unable to afford available enterprise-grade social networking applications. Using existing free social medium platforms, GRANITO focuses on teaching an enterprise wide awareness of, and participation in, fundamental business tools such as mentoring, brain-storming, networking and team...

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Chapter News, News

EU Expects to Add Nearly 3 Million Jobs in App Sector over Next Four Years

According to a new report released by the European Commission, by 2018 the EU’s “app economy” could employ 4.8 million people (up from around 1.8 million) and contribute €63 billion (more than $80 billion) to the EU economy. Currently, EU and North American developers each generate around 42 percent of app revenues in crucial EU and US markets. Key findings from the study include: EU games app developers lead the field: 28 EU companies created 40 percent of the top 100 grossing apps...

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Chapter News, News

EU Commission Winter 2014 forecast: Recovery Gaining Ground

The European Commission's winter forecast foresees a continuation of the economic recovery in most Member States and in the EU as a whole. After exiting recession in spring 2013 and three consecutive quarters of subdued recovery, the outlook is for a moderate step-up in economic growth. Following real GDP growth of 1.5% in the EU and 1.2% in the euro area in 2014, activity is seen accelerating in 2015 to 2.0% in the EU and 1.8% in the euro...

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