Competition lawyers are predicting that Europe’s competition regulators will pursue abuse of dominance cases with renewed vigour now that Microsoft’s record fine has been upheld by Europe’s Court of First Instance (CFI). Last week (17 September) the CFI backed Microsoft’s record €497m (£345.33m) fine from 2004, which charged the software giant with abuse of dominant […]
Tighter regulation of investment products will spark higher costs for professional advice and leave the mass market out in the cold. By Simon Gleeson The regulatory landscape for retail products in the UK is entering a period of rapid change. Financial Services Authority (FSA), EU and Government initiatives are all running strongly and it seems […]
The Treasury is planning to bring the UK covered bond market into line with the EU by ringfencing assets and giving the FSA more powers. Alan Newton and Will Higgs report The UK covered bond market received a boost in July when the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced that they will fall […]
The location of a company’s registered office is vital during insolvency proceedings. Georgia Quenby reports on how a German company survived after ‘migrating’ to England The €500m (£347.42m) corporate restructuring of German autoparts manufacturer Schefenacker Group, which completed on 29 June, has been hailed as a triumph for the consensual approach taken by the principal […]
Tighter regulation of investment products will spark higher costs for professional advice and leave the mass market out in the cold. By Simon Gleeson The regulatory landscape for retail products in the UK is entering a period of rapid change. Financial Services Authority (FSA), EU and Government initiatives are all running strongly and it seems […]
The US sub-prime mortgage decline has had a knock-on effect in Europe. Thank heavens for the mid-market, says Stuart Brinkworth, which is keeping leveraged deals alive Despite recent developments in the European leveraged loan market, the mid-market still has reason to be cheerful. Over the past two years the credit bubble has been personified by […]
After a summer spent watching how the US sub-prime market would cope with its downfall, David Koschik reports on a somewhat uncertain future In late June, just as the financial community had begun to slow down for its traditional summer break, a sudden collapse in confidence brought turmoil to credit markets around the globe. The […]
Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has advised interactive media company Ludorum on a licensing agreement for the UK broadcast related rights to a new animated children’s series. Computer-generated 3D series Chuggington, which follows the adventures of three trainee diesel engines, includes an interactive website and is focused on assisting the learning and social development of […]
O’Melveny & Myers has scored a deal advising new banking client Climate Change Capital on the launch of its first clean technology private equity vehicle, the €200m (£137.82m) Climate Change Capital Private Equity Fund. The team acting for the European bank was led by London partner Solomon Wifa, with corporate support from associate Lynn Chan. […]
Olswang’s US alliance with Greenberg Traurig, along with its new office in Berlin, has helped the firm score a new corporate client in Europe. Olswang acted on the competition and finance matters for Oxbow Carbon, the world’s biggest marketer of petroleum coke, in its purchase of Dutch company SSM Coal. The deal will boost Oxbow’s […]
Eversheds’ London and Qatar Islamic finance teams have advised on a $600m (£300.43m) loan for Qatar real estate company Barwa. The funds, raised by Gulf International Bank in Qatar, will be used by Barwa to finance international real estate operations and projects. Lead partner on the deal and head of Eversheds’ Islamic finance group Indraj […]
Addleshaw Goddard, Hammonds, Pinsent Masons and Linklaters have all benefited from one of the smaller private equity deals being announced in the regions, despite the credit crunch. The four firms scored lead roles on the £40m buy-in of food manufacturer Symington’s by a management team backed by fund manager Hermes. Symington’s is home to celebrity […]