This article is intended to provide some solutions on how to reduce the amount of parallel imports of your products into Ireland without breaching European law. Parallel trade of products occurs within the European Union (EU) as EU legislation provides for the free movement of goods within the EU. This rule frequently results in products being imported from cheaper countries within the EU (for example Greece) to more expensive countries within the EU (for example Ireland) ...
This Newsletter describes the latest developments in Trade and Regulation in the Latin American region and the EU ...
Merger and acquisition activity has increased dramatically in China over the last several years. While such transactions were virtually unknown a mere ten years ago, they are now an increasingly common and important feature of China’s economic landscape. The M&A route now offers foreign investors a viable method of entering the China market. China’s economic reforms and robust growth have fuelled the increased pace of M&A activity ...
Despite rumours from Westminster that the Pensions Bill was to be dropped to make room for the anti-fox hunting Bill, it looks certain that the Pensions Bill will finally receive Royal Assent in November. In its final form, the Bill now extends to over 350 pages. Those looking for simplification will be disappointed to say the least ...
Introduction Patented inventions are a large source of revenue in the pharmaceutical industry. Ireland's tax exemption in respect of certain patent royalties, has been one of the driving factors behind investment by pharmaceutical multinationals, principally from the US, in the Irish economy. Irish tax legislation provides an exemption from tax for income derived from "qualifying patents" when received by a person resident in Ireland and not resident in any other country ...
On 21 June 2004, the European Community (“EC”) submitted its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (“WIPO”). The accession took effect from 1 October 2004.The Madrid Protocol is a treaty that facilitates the international registration of trade marks (“the International Registration System”) ...
The UK press reported recently (August 2004) that an unnamed Lloyds TSB customer, backed by the Lloyds TSB Group Union, has complained to the Information Commissioner (the UK equivalent of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner) in respect of the transfer abroad of “sensitive personal data” 1 held by Lloyds about its customers. The government-appointed information commissioner has been asked to rule on whether Lloyds TSB is acting illegally ...
Synopsis - Trial lawyers often find themselves defending one of several defendants in a lawsuit. Depending on the claims and defenses in the case, they may need to communicate with lawyers defending other parties to discuss defense strategy and understand the case from different perspectives. It is critically important for trial lawyers to know and understand which communications are protected from discovery ...
May a manufacturer fix the price at which its distributor may sell its products (resale price maintenance)? Article 10 of the Federal Enconomic Competition Law sets out in seven paragraphs the activities that are classified as relative monopolistic practices, provided that: (a) the agent in question has substantial economic power in the relevant market; and (b) the purpose of effect of the activity is, or may be, to improperly displace other agents from the market, significantly impede their
Current economic competition legislation has imposed new rules on economic agents that operate in the national market. These rules have changed the nature of the relationships which business may have with competitors, suppliers, distributors, and customers ...
China has traditionally restricted foreign investment in the retail and wholesale sectors with the aim of nurturing strong domestic players before their foreign counterparts would be let into the country. However, in order to become a member of the World Trade Organisation, China has committed itself to gradually opening up its distribution sector to foreign investment ...
Year-end deadline for application to the HKMA to adopt the basic approach and internal rating based approach for credit risk calculation The Hong Kong Monetary Authority ("HKMA") issued a circular ("the Circular") to all Hong Kong incorporated authorised institutions ("AIs") on 7 December 2004, requesting formal applications from AIs that plan to adopt the internal rating based ("IRB") or the basic approach ("Basic Approach") for the assessment of their capital adequacy ...
Kochhar & Co- India- The Reserve Bank of India Simplifies Procedures in respect of Transfer of Shares/ Convertible Debentures by way of sale by a resident to a non-resident Under Indian exchange control laws, the transfer of shares, by way of sale, by a resident to a non-resident (i.e ...
On 1 October 2004, two new sets of regulations became effective under PRC Law: • Regulations on Securities Investment Fund Management Companies (FMC Regulations); and • Regulations on Senior Management Personnel of Securities Investment Fund Management Companies (Senior Management Regulations). The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) also issued two related notices, one in respect of the application of each of the Regulations ...
Prior to 4 November 2004, a Hong Kong authorised scheme could invest up to 10% of its total net asset value in other collective investment schemes (CIS) under the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds (Code), but it could not invest in any type of real estate or interests in real estate (except shares in real estate companies) ...
Based on the statistics prepared by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), as of early November 2004, there are approximately 280 SFC authorised guaranteed funds. This number has continued to grow throughout 2004. Background The early guaranteed funds introduced to the Hong Kong market in late 1999 offered simple investment strategies securing a capital guarantee with a potential up-side linked to the performance of underlying assets ...
In order to reduce the risks imposed on investors and the market by the excessive re-pledging and imprudent lending of securities margin financing (SMF) providers, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a Consultation Paper on the Proposed Measures to Address Risks Arising from Securities Margin Financing ...
Disclosure of Interests Recently, the SFC has successfully prosecuted a number of breaches of the duty to disclose securities interests, among which the most widely reported in the news was that of the prosecution of Mr. William Mong Man-wai. Mr. Mong was charged with failure to declare his interest in nearly 3 million shares of Bank of East Asia in contravention of section 28(1)(b) of the Securities (Disclosure of Interests) Ordinance. Mr ...
Proposed guidelines have been formulated to prevent analysts’ trading activities or financial interests from prejudicing their investment research and recommendations. The guidelines are scheduled to come into effect on 1 April 2005 and are to form part of the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC. The guidelines cover only shares, stock warrants or stock options listed in Hong Kong or investment research that has an influence on such securities ...
The Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) issued the Measures for Registration for the Record of Foreign Trade Operators on 25 June 2004. The Measures, which entered into effect on 1 July 2004, are based on the revised Foreign Trade Law and specify registration rules applicable to operators of commodity or technology import-export business (“foreign trade operators”) ...
1. Overview of recent corporate governance reforms a. Recent initiatives There have been numerous recent changes in Hong Kong in relation to corporate governance matters, extending well beyond legislation and nonbinding codes. The roles of relevant regulators have also been examined and proposed changes made. As far as legislation is concerned, the most significant change is the introduction of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, which came into force on April 1 2003 ...
On October 29, 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its much anticipated decision in the case of Peoples Department Stores (Trustee of) vs. Wise ...
Practically everyday new companies in Ukraine are entering international financial markets through attraction of loans from international financial institutions (IFI), placement of Eurobonds, etc. Some of them would certainly soon start thinking of Initial Public Offerings (IPO) and similar instruments. In this overview the author tries to shed light on some very important but rather hidden prerequisites for success in doing so ...
