The Italian Competition Authority (“ICA”) is a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization established on the basis of Law no 287 of 10 October 1990 (“the Competition Law”). The ICA operates in Italy enforcing rules against anticompetitive agreements among undertakings, abuses of dominant position as well as concentrations (e.g., mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures) which may create or strengthen dominant positions detrimental to competition. The ICA acts as both an investigative and decision-making body. In essence, the ICA controls M&A activities which...

By Florian Bruder M.Jur. (Oxon) | DLA PIPER The EU's proposed pre-insolvency restructuring procedure offers opportunities for creditors and investors. However, it is not without risk, as is demonstrated by a comparison of the proposed procedure with both British and Singapore schemes of arrangement, as well as the chapter 11 proceeding in the US. The EU draft directive of November 22, 2016 seeks to implement a so-called preventive restructuring framework for European member states. Negotiations are well along, and the directive is envisaged...

By Joseph Spraragen | jspraragengdlsk.com | Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP On May 8, 2018, the President announced that the United States is withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and he signed a Presidential Memorandum directing that all trade sanctions against Iran that were lifted or waived under the JCPOA shall be re-imposed as soon as possible. In conjuncture with the President’s announcement, OFAC has posted initial guidance that includes a timetable for enforcing the restored trade sanctions. While certain...

By Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati   The deadline for submission of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) five-year benchmark survey regarding foreign direct investment in the United States is rapidly approaching.1   The survey, known as the BE-12 survey, is required for U.S. businesses in which a foreign entity or person holds, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the U.S. business' voting interests at any time during 2017 or an equivalent share in an unincorporated enterprise. The...

ING continues pace of commercial growth, attracting more customers and increasing core lending ING grew primary customer base in 1Q18 by 170,000 to 11.2 million; total retail customers reached 37.8 million Net core lending in 1Q18 increased by €12.3 billion; net customer deposit inflow amounted to €2.4 billion ING 1Q18 underlying pre-tax result of €1,686 million, up 2.1% year-on-year Good result reflects continued loan growth and lower risk costs, whereas expenses remained under control ING's 1Q18 four-quarter rolling underlying ROE...

By Dirk Van Gerven | Geert Raaijmakers | Suzanne Rutten |Greet Wilkenhuysen | On 25 April 2018, the European Commission published two proposals for directives: a proposal to make it easier for companies to merge, divide and transfer their registered office within the EU and a proposal to render it possible throughout the EU to establish a company online. To which corporate forms do the proposals apply? In the Netherlands, the new harmonised European procedure for cross-border mergers, divisions and conversions and the complete online establishment of a company...

Loki Labs is pleased to announce we have been selected by Enterprise Security Magazine as a Top 10 Vulnerability Management Solution Provider in 2018. Enterprise Security Magazine is the go-to print and digital platform for Chief Security Officers and their teams that speaks about the security solutions which can help organizations get prepared for radical changes and mainstream attacks that can cripple an infrastructure. The Loki Labs article details our approach to managed security services and vulnerability management. Check it out here or...

If you are living in Spain, France, Portugal, Cyprus or Malta, or planning to move or retire abroad, there are some key taxation issues you need be aware of so you can plan to protect your wealth. These include... What makes you tax resident? What taxes are you liable for? How are investments and pensions taxed? Will you have to pay wealth tax? What inheritance taxes will your heirs pay? What about transfers between spouses on death?  Download the Tax...