Resource Library

Recently, the European Commission adopted decisions against the cartels in Euro and Yen interest rate derivatives, imposing fines to banks and financial institutions. These fines are the highest imposed by the Commission in cartel cases to the present day. These decisions illustrate the intense and added scrutiny to which the financial sector has been subjected by competition authorities in the EU and elsewhere.

Chinese M&A has become an increasingly important part of the global deal-making narrative. While appetites among Chinese acquirers for foreign assets were tepid as late as the mid-2000s, they have grown voraciously thanks to factors including weakened currencies in developed markets, attractive asset valuations overseas and China’s vast stable of cash-rich buyers positioned for overseas consolidation.

Since the financial crisis we have seen an emerging trend of companies entering into joint ventures rather than 100% acquisitions, particularly in Europe and the MENASA and Asia Pacific regions.

Companies in the energy industry continue to face scrutiny from federal securities regulators and private securities class action lawyers on numerous fronts. Energy industry participants should be particularly mindful of the following enforcement initiatives and shareholder litigation trends.

Canadian M&A activity was moderate in 2013. The weakened natural resources sector, which had helped Canada outperform other economies through the recession, contributed to an overall drop in M&A levels as the total number and aggregate value of Canadian deals, and Canada’s share of global M&A, decreased. However, powered by a strong domestic economy, Canadian companies’ outbound M&A strengthened relative to inbound acquisitions and the U.S. was again by far the most popular target country. Against that backdrop, we answer some frequently asked questions on Canadian M&A and discuss the trends that Blakes sees unfolding in 2014.

This sample form contains the pertinent process information to consider when dealing with a notes offering.

This form should be used to help itemize what acquisitions a company has made.

A coalition of companies and investors released a draft framework for reporting on sustainability and financial information in a combined format.

This is a sample model release of information of minor consent form.

This article deals with board tools for oversight of cybersecurity risk.