Member News, News, Uncategorized

French minister Fleur Pellerin launches the “Say OUI to France” campaign

In October, 2012, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ms. Fleur Pellerin, the French Minister Delegate with responsibility for SMEs, Innovation and the Digital Economy, held an early breakfast meeting with theUStechnology press to mark the launch of the joint INPI/IFA "Say OUI to France – Say OUI to innovation" campaign. The meeting was held on the fringes of EmTech, a major international trade show on emerging technologies organized by the MIT TechnologyReview. This is the signature to the new...

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Member News, News

Gift Tax Exemption Will Not Likely Be Extended.

In response to the results of the 2012 election, John O. McManus - top AV-rated tax and estate planning attorney and founding principal of Tri-State-Area-based McManus & Associates - released the following guide to changes in tax rates and exemptions, as well as a statement below: 2012 and 2013 Tax Rates and Exemptions                                                                                                               2012                 2013 Estate Tax Rate                                                                                 35%                   55% Estate Tax Exemption                                                                        $5.12MM          $1MM Gift Tax Rate                                                                                      35%                   55% Gift Tax Exemption                                                                             $5.12MM          $1MM Generation Skipping Transfer...

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Member News, News

Laurent Schummer, Corporate Partner, joins Arendt & Medernach

Arendt & Medernach, the leading independent business law firm inLuxembourg, is pleased to announce the arrival of Laurent Schummer at the firm. Laurent Schummer specialises in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and the structuring of private equity funds. Laurent, who was admitted to the Luxembourg Bar in 1998, has spent most of his career in the Corporate department of a large international law firm inLuxembourg. He holds a law degree (Licence en droit) from the Catholic University of...

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Member News, News

CFPB Small Business Panels: What a Change in ‘Size Standards’ Could Mean

The Dodd-Frank Consumer Financial Protection Act gave the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the honor of being one of only three agencies subject to a statute that is aimed at providing extra protection for small businesses. This little-known law, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), requires covered agencies - the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and now the CFPB as well - to convene a special panel whenever one...

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Chapter News, News

EU NEWSBRIEF: European Union Congratulates President Obama on his Re-election

Leaders of the European Union today congratulated President Barack Obama on his re-election as President of the United States of America. "The United States is a key strategic partner of the European Union and we look forward to continuing the close cooperation established with President Obama over these last four years, to further strengthening our bilateral ties and to jointly addressing global challenges, including in the fields of security and economy," said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European...

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Chapter News, News

Innovation performance of 190 European regions compared

Innovation is a key driver of economic growth and jobs. The Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2012, published today, provides a comparative assessment of how European regions perform with regard to innovation. The report covers 190 regions across the European Union, Croatia, Norway and Switzerland. To read more about the subject click here. Additional information about the Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2012 click here.

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Chapter News, News

Life in the 21st century cybersphere

Envision a "wild west" version of cyberspace where crime is rampant, security is breached, and systems go down. The EU is on it-tackling threats to global networks, combating cybercrime, and working with the U.S. to safeguard this vital foundation of the 21st century economy. Learn more in the November 2012 issue of EU Focus.     In this context also see: Cyber-security – a shared responsibility.        

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Chapter News, News

Q2 Irish Fund Statistics show Double Digit Growth

The Central Bank of Ireland statistics for Q2 2012 show further growth of Irish investment funds. Asset levels in Irish funds increased in value to €855.1 billion at the end of Q2 2012. This figure is up from €819.8 billion at the end of Q1 2012 and €768.7 billion at the end of Q4 2011. This equates to growth of over 11% for the first half of 2012 and continues a trend evident throughout 2011, where net inflows into Irish domiciled...

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Chapter News, News

Central Bank Issues Consultation Paper on AIFMD

The Central Bank of Ireland (the “Central Bank”) has issued Consultation Paper CP 60 (the “Consultation Paper”) in relation to the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “AIFMD”) and its implementation in Ireland. AIFMD The AIFMD will come into effect on 22 July 2013 and will apply to all alternative investment fund managers. The transposition of the AIFMD into Irish law will be by means of secondary legislation, meaning a statutory instrument which can be expeditiously signed into law by the...

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