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SOUTH AFRICAN UPDATE – Public Interest a Key Factor in Merger Analysis

Executive Summary:  Recently, public interest considerations (with particular reference to employment) in merger proceedings have become a focus area such that it is now common practice that the competition authorities are required to consider the effect which a proposed transaction will have on (i) a particular industrial sector or region, (ii) employment, (iii) the ability … Continued

Editors’ Note: This article was contributed by Michael Katz, chairman and senior partner of Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs and a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable. It was authored by Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs director Ryan Goodman and associates Tebogo Hlafane and Kirsty van den Bergh.

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JAPANESE UPDATE – Letters Of Intent In Japanese M&A Transactions

Highlights: A letter of intent is especially helpful in a cross-border transaction to memorialize the basic terms of a proposed deal when differences in culture, deal structuring techniques, due diligence styles, and documentation standards can add layers of challenge. Typical provisions in a letter of intent are discussed below. The default rule under Japanese law … Continued

Editors’ Note: Masakazu Iwakura is a Senior Partner at Nishimura & Asahi and a member of XBMA's Legal Roundtable. This paper was co-authored Stephen D. Bohrer, Foreign Law Partner, and Daisuke Morimoto, Partner, of Nishimura & Asahi. As one of Japan's leading M&A practitioners, Masakazu Iwakura has handled a variety of groundbreaking M&A transactions and serves on the boards of several public companies: COOKPAD Corporation, Imperial Hotel and GMO Internet. Mr. Iwakura is also a Professor at Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy and is a Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School in the 2013-2014 academic year.

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GLOBAL STATISTICAL UPDATE – XBMA Quarterly Review for Third Quarter 2013

Executive Summary/Highlights: Deal activity was relatively strong in Q3, with global M&A volume of US$717 billion, marking the second strongest quarter of the past two calendar years. Strong Q3 performance was driven in part by Verizon’s $130 billion acquisition of Vodafone’s 45% interest in Verizon Wireless, the third largest deal in history.  Excluding Verizon/Vodafone, Q3 … Continued

Editors’ Note: The XBMA Review is published on a quarterly basis in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of trends and developments.  In order to facilitate meaningful comparisons, the Review has utilized consistent metrics and sources of data since inception.  We welcome feedback and suggestions for improving the XBMA Review or for interpreting the data.

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EU Update – European Union and Singapore Initial Free Trade Agreement

Highlights: The establishment of a free trade area between the EU and Singapore is expected to have significant benefits for Singapore and EU companies. Annual EU exports to Singapore could rise by EUR 1.4 billion over 10 years and annual exports by Singapore companies (including EU companies based in Singapore) could rise by EUR 3.5 … Continued

Editors’ Note: Geert Potjewijd is a partner at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, resident in Beijing, and a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable. This paper was authored by Dieter Wolff and Jaap de Keijzer, both partners at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a leading Dutch law firm with broad expertise in M&A and governance matters.

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CHINESE UPDATE – Shanghai Free Trade Zone – Still Much to Expect

Highlights:  The highly anticipated China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (the “Zone”) was officially launched on September 27, 2013, followed by a flurry of implementing rules and measures.  The central government of China expects the Zone to be the country’s testing ground for groundbreaking economic reforms to be extended nationwide in the future.  The most … Continued

Editors’ Note: Contributed by Adam Li (Li, Qi), a partner at Jun He and a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable. Mr. Li is a leading expert in international M&A, capital market and international financial transactions involving Chinese companies. He has broad experience with VIEs and other structures for foreign investment in China. Authored by Daniel He (He, Kan), a partner of Jun He Law Offices, and Cui, Yu, an associate of Jun He Law Offices. Mr. He is a partner at Jun He, specialized in mergers and acquisitions, foreign direct investment, general corporate law, and regulatory compliance.

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CHINESE UPDATE – Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Open to Certain Media and Entertainment Sectors

Executive Summary: Main Article: The opening ceremony of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (“Shanghai FTZ”), held on September, 29, 2013, marks the formal operation of Shanghai FTZ.  Liberalization in certain media and entertainment sectors is one of the highlights of the various reforms of Shanghai FTZ.  According to media reports, many listed companies operating … Continued

Editors’ Note:  Contributed by Adam Li (Li Qi), a partner at Jun He and a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable.  Mr. Li is a leading expert in international M&A, capital market and international financial transactions involving Chinese companies.  He has broad experience with VIEs and other structures for foreign investment in China.  Authored by Linghu Ming, Counsel at Jun He Law Offices, with assistance of associates Sun Xuan and Zhang Ran.

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Global Update – M&A Outlook: Global Deal Volumes And Appetite Expected To Improve

Executive Summary:  There is a strong consensus global M&A volumes will increase as confidence in the overall economy climbs. Below are the results of Ernst & Young’s Capital Confidence Barometer April 2013 – October 2013.  The Global Capital Confidence Barometer is a regular survey of senior executives from large companies around the world, conducted by … Continued

Editors’ Note: Franny Yao (Yao Fang), who contributed this article, is a Partner & Leader at Ernst & Young in Beijing, responsible for Key Accounts and Government Relations in China. She is a founding director of XBMA and has broad expertise in cross-border M&A, representing major Chinese companies in their global expansion and other strategic drives.

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Polish Update – The Risk of Inaccurate Statements in Representations and Warranties

Executive summary: In transactions involving the sale of shares in companies in Poland, as well as agreements on sale of enterprises or significant assets, the representations and warranties of sellers are becoming more and more extensive. Main Article: The notion of representations and warranties was adopted from common law systems and has become part of … Continued

Editor’s Note: This update comes from Tomasz Wardyński, founding partner of Wardyński & Partners and a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable. The authors of this article are Dominika Stępińska-Duch and Paweł Mazur, members of Wardyński & Partners Dispute Resolution & Arbitration Practice.

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INDIAN UPDATE – COURT BASED RESTRUCTURINGS UNDER THE NEW COMPANIES ACT, 2013

Executive summary: This article briefly examines a few key changes made to the process for court based restructurings introduced by the Companies Act, 2013. Introduction The Companies Act, 2013 (“2013 Act”), having been approved by the Lok Sabha in 2012, was approved by the Rajya Sabha on August 8, 2013 and now only awaits Presidential … Continued

Editors’ Note: Cyril Shroff is the Managing Partner and head of the Corporate group of Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. Mr. Shroff is also a member of XBMA’s Legal Roundtable and one of the deans of the Indian corporate bar and a leading authority on Indian M&A, with extensive experience handling many of the largest and most complex domestic and cross-border M&A, takeover, banking and project finance transactions in India. This article was co-authored by Mr. Shroff and Ms. Vandana Sekhri (Partner) of the Mumbai office of Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co.

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EU UPDATE – When Failure Brings Success: A Rare Example of the Failing Firm Defence

Executive Summary:   The European Commission approved a proposed acquisition which would create a merged entity that would be the only producer of naphthenic base and process oils in the EEA.  The Commission’s investigation found that  failure to approve such merger would result in a loss of refinery assets and significantly reduce production capacity in the … Continued

Editors’ Note:  Contributed by Nigel Boardman, a partner at Slaughter and May and a founding director of XBMA.  Mr. Boardman is one of the leading M&A lawyers in the UK with broad experience in a wide range of cross-border transactions.  Authored by Ingrid Lauwers and Anna Battersby of Slaughter and May.

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