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Investment Law

Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board Application Fees to Double

As of 29 July 2022 and under newly imposed regulations, fees payable to Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for applications for foreign investment transactions will double. Background During the 2022 federal election campaign the Labor Party committed to addressing housing affordability in Australia with its “Help to Buy” initiative, which proposes to cut the

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European Securities and Markets Authority Argues for More Investor Protection

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) was asked by the European Commission to investigate the state of investment protection and, based on its findings, to provide recommendations. ESMA submitted a Final Report on 29 April 2022 that contains several recommendations for the Commission to consider. The report is another step in furtherance of the

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France Expands List of Sectors Subject to Foreign Investments Screening

Effective January 1, 2022, and with the addition of sectors in which foreign investments are subject to prior authorization by the Minister of the Economy, France has taken another step in its ongoing expansion of foreign investment control. This initiative began in 2014, with the famous “Montebourg decree,” and has been further reinforced during the COVID-19 crisis.

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Effective 1 January 2022, LIBOR Will Be No More: Are You Ready?

In less than a month, on 1 January 2022, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) will be replaced by risk-free reference rates (RFRs). Nearly five years after the official announcement — and in the face of more recent geopolitical, economic and public-health upheavals — lenders, borrowers and investors may have forgotten the approach of this important

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Indonesia’s New Investment Regime: Overview and Impacts on Key Industries

Following the implementation of Indonesia’s Law No. 11 of 2020 on Job Creation (or Omnibus Law), the government has issued a series of regulations providing further clarification and guidance for many of the nation’s key economic sectors. These regulations include general requirements on business investment as well as specific guidance on industries such as telecommunications,

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US SEC Adopts Amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11 on Securities Quotations

On September 16, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Rule 15c2-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Rule 15c2-11 governs the publication of quotations for securities in a quotation medium other than a national securities exchange — over-the-counter (OTC) securities, in particular. Among other matters, the amendments require information

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Pro-Business Hungary: An Open-Door Policy to Investors

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) into Hungary surged by 24 percent to reach an all-time record €5.35 billion in 2019, as the country continues to cement its place as a preferred destination for the world’s investors. The managing partner of Budapest-based law firm KCG Partners, Eszter Kamocsay-Berta, provides insight into some of Hungary’s investment incentives. “It

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US Startups: Understanding Your Disclosure Obligations to Investors

A company and its management have an obligation to disclose all material information that a reasonable investor would want to know prior to making an investment in the company. Information is material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in determining whether or not to make an investment.

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Luxembourg Establishes Register of Beneficial Owners of Legal Entities

In the context of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, the European Union (EU) adopted on May 20th, 2015, Directive (EU) 2015/849 (known as “4th AML Directive”) and on May 30th, 2018, Directive (EU) 2018/843 (known as “5th AML Directive”) (together, the “Directives“). These Directives provide for a series of measures to prevent

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