Key Differences and Requirements Both the United States and the European Union require mandatory pre-merger notification for significant transactions, but their frameworks, criteria, and the role of subnational jurisdictions (states or member states) differ in several important ways. United States States are increasingly introducing broad pre-merger notification rules in addition to the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Many state regimes mirror or modestly expand upon federal triggers and requirements: Key Features Notification Triggers: Mergers reportable under the federal HSR Act are typically triggered...

AI in Translation: Risks, Limitations, and Best Practices As artificial intelligence reshapes global business operations, its role in multilingual communication is expanding rapidly. From internal documentation to cross-border contracts and marketing campaigns, AI translation tools promise speed, efficiency, and cost savings. However, for organizations operating across jurisdictions and cultures, understanding the limitations of these tools is essential. A professional review of AI translations is recommended to mitigate risk, ensure accuracy, and protect business outcomes. Benefits of Using AI in Translation For companies...

It’s easy to let preconceived notions slip into portfolio construction and investment analysis. Background ideas on policymaking and the relative importance of different indicators can become baked into thinking, without being directly reviewed. This is generally a no-harm, no-foul situation: these conditions change slowly and infrequently, although when they do change, the impact can be great. Prior to Silicon Valley Bank’s failure in March 2023, for instance, we think few investors considered the impact of unrecognized marked-to-market bond losses on...

A total of 42 domestic, private-label commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) deals with a balance of $32.74 billion were issued during the first quarter, marking the second busiest first quarter since just before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). The volume, however, represented a 12.8% reduction from last year, which itself was the busiest post-GFC first quarter.   SASB Deals Driving Issuance As has increasingly been the case, issuance of single-asset, single-borrower (SASB) deals dominated, accounting for nearly three-quarters (32 deals) of the period's issuance,...

Key takeaways Surging energy prices have complicated the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate on inflation and unemployment. Fed projections appear optimistic despite the risk of stagflation and the decreasing likelihood of rate cuts. Policy uncertainty dominates as war-driven energy risks push potential rate cuts out to a later date.   The recent energy shock has put the Federal Reserve in a quandary. It has a dual mandate of maintaining price stability and fostering maximum sustainable employment. High energy prices only make this job...