The Dutch government is currently taking major steps towards the development of large offshore and onshore wind projects. For offshore wind, 3450 MW of power will be put out for tender during the period 2015-2019, divided across ten to twelve projects. The government is offering grants to the tune of € 18 billion. In addition, work is underway on establishing robust spatial legislation to ensure rapid clarity on the locations of the new projects. This legislative operation should mean that...

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On April 15, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a Risk Alert on its Cybersecurity Initiative.1 The Alert is intended to provide additional information concerning the SEC’s initiative to assess cybersecurity preparedness in the securities industry, including broker-dealers and investment advisers. The SEC has been increasingly focused on cybersecurity issues, beginning with its Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance issued in October of 20112 and most recently with its Cybersecurity Roundtable.3 In its Alert,...

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April data show that the $133 million Three Borough Pool paid off with a small loss. A Wall Street Journal article and a Barclay's note also alerted us to the refinancing of the previously delinquent loan backed by 42 multifamily buildings across Manhattan, Brooklyn and The Bronx. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the owners of the pool, Normandy Real Estate and Westbrook Partners, came to a settlement which allowed the refinancing to be finalized. The loan had been delinquent since 2011 when conversions...

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Borrower Gives Up on Newark Hotel April commentary from the special servicer handling the $53.8 million Sheraton at Newark International Airport revealed the borrower is not interested in a modification, but will cooperate with a foreclosure. (A Commercial Real Estate Direct piece tipped us off to the note.) The loan, which backs 2.4% of JPMCC 2006-CB17, was transferred to special servicing last month and is now listed as 90+ days delinquent. The Sheraton at Newark International Airport loan is backed by a 504-unit, full service hotel...

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