VULCAN VIEW: KEY EVENTS THIS WEEK: FACEBOOK DATA BREACH Further revelations show up to 87m Facebook users data hit Facebook’s data breach continues to escalate as the company this week admitted that it believes up to 87 millions of its users  may have been affected by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. These latest figures are a dramatic increase from last week’s initial revelations that up to 50 million Facebook users had their data mined from the data analytics company. Speaking to reporters about the breach,...

By Bannockburn Global Forex, LLC  March saw the USD fall back a little against most currencies, though there were modest gains against the CAD and some of the other more risk positive currencies. Although there was significant monetary policy news with the Fed raising rates and the ECB shifting their stance to be very slightly less dovish, the main market focus in March was on the Trump proposal to introduce tariffs on steel and aluminum and a large selection of Chinese...

By Sally A. Painter and Jeremiah J. Baronberg “A Europe, whole free and at peace.” These words, so often repeated, have served as a guiding beacon and vision for a stable and united Europe after centuries of violent conflict and the devastation of World War II. They provide a common understanding of a troubled past that informs the present and, by extension, points to a shared future. Today, with the continent in flux, it is worth remembering that this vision of unity and integration did...

 TrendHunter.com’s latest free monthly report for Toy Association members provides fodder for toy companies to consider whether a partnership with an online influencer makes sense for their brand.  “The report provides a better understanding of how online and social influencers are using their platforms for successful marketing and takes a deep dive into fresh ways influencers are producing content,” said Anne McConnell, senior director of market research & data strategy at The Toy Association.  The following trends are highlighted in the report: Artsy...

By Kristan Gross | Global Executive Director | Vision Impact Institute Before our children are even born, we’re making the best efforts to set them up for success – from ensuring we take in the proper nourishment for our developing babies to selecting the best doctors for their childhood. In some cases, we already have their futures mapped out before we even know their gender or see their hair color. Yet when those same children go to school, many find themselves at...

By Floris ten Have | Senior Associate | Amsterdam | Stibbe On 7 March 2018, the president of the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) together with two colleagues published a paper concerning the application of the competition rules in the pharmaceutical industry. The paper specifically explains that they see a role for competition law enforcement if the owners of patented drugs engage in excessive pricing. In its agenda 2018-2019 publishedearlier this year, the ACM indicated that it will focus on four topics, one of...

By Manokia Musonge | TD Bank  Interactive educational platform meets the unique needs of individuals with diverse abilities and their caregivers In honor of Financial Literacy Month, TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank™, is announcing the launch of its Adaptive Financial Education program, which offers a variety of on-site seminars along with online, interactive tools, tutorials and games that empower individuals with diverse abilities and their caregivers to navigate their financial lives more independently and successfully. TD's new program is designed to improve...

This article was published in ACG New York 2017 Private Equity in Review. It is reprinted here with permission. By Johanna R. Collins-Wood | Associate | Pepper Hamilton  According to PitchBook, 23 M&A deals in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space closed in 2017. Within the first month of 2018, five more deals closed. While most of the 2017 transactions occurred between industry participants due to consolidation, increasingly, other companies are evaluating the many potential benefits of blockchain technology,  particularly companies that engage in extensive...