In the days between 13 March 2020 and 15 March 2020, the government announced a comprehensive package of measures to combat Covid-19 ("Corona virus"), which is to enter into force on 16 March 2020. This in particular includes the ordered closure of shops and restaurants. The following initial overview addresses a number of key issues that arise for tenants and landlords as a result of the current situation ...
Corona-related sales declines in many industries lead to short-term liquidity bottlenecks for numerous companies. As the third pillar of the protective shield for employees and companies, the German Federal Government has therefore decided on new and unlimited measures to expand liquidity assistance to facilitate companies’ access to cheap loans ...
The GST Council in its 39th meeting held on 14 March 2020 has made the following recommendations: Movement in Tax Rate Goods Increase in GST rates on mobile phones and specified parts to 18% from 12% Handmade and other than handmade matches rates rationalised to 12 %, thereby solving the HSN classification issue: Increase in handmade matches from 5% to 12 % Decrease in other matches from 18% to 12% Services Reduction in GST rates on maintenance, re
The impact of the coronavirus raises a number of questions for landlords and tenants of commercial property. This article considers the most frequent questions we are asked. Can I claim a reduction in rent if I am unable to use my premises? In most cases you will not be able to claim a reduction in rent ...
On top of the multiple challenges hitting retail and leisure landlords and occupiers arising from COVID-19, the news that Intu has had to write down the value of its shopping centre portfolio by nearly £2 billion came as further bad news. Intu owns multiple high-profile retail and leisure locations across the UK (including The Trafford Centre in Manchester and the Lakeside complex in Essex) and on 12 March was widely reported as being at risk of insolvency ...
The Financial Services industry has been quick to respond to the struggles facing individuals and businesses during the current coronavirus pandemic, but there are issues they need to consider when implementing their forbearance measures ...
The coronavirus has arrived in Germany. This is the central statement of the press conference held by Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 12, 2020. Ongoing construction projects are therefore also affected by the corona crisis, with considerable construction delays to be expected. Contractual provisions are usually lacking Contracts are reflecting the parties’ experiences and expectations. They provide for conceivable or expected circumstances, aiming to create legal certainty ...
ESMA DECISION The European Securities and Markets Authority („ESMA“) announced today the decision to lower the initial reporting threshold for net short positions under the EU Short Selling Regulation to 0.1 percent (the „ESMA Decision“). The ESMA Decision has entered into force immediately after its publication on ESMA’s website. INITIAL REPORTING THRESHOLD NOW 0.1 PERCENT (PRIOR: 0 ...
The consequences of the coronavirus are omnipresent and felt by everyone. Management Board members and Directors of issuers of securities listed on the open or regulated market are faced with the question whether ad hoc publicity obligations are arising for their companies in connection with the corona crisis. The abstract circumstance of the occurrence of a recession as a result of the spread of the coronavirus does not trigger an ad hoc disclosure obligation ...
We are conscious that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is top of mind for everyone these days, and our first hope is that all of our clients and their loved ones are healthy and safe. Many of our private lending clients have had questions regarding actions they should be taking in response to the pandemic and the effect voluntary and, in some cases mandated, “social distancing” measures are having on their businesses and the economy ...
On March 11, 2020, the City of San Francisco announced measures to support small businesses in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The City’s support efforts include the deferral of business taxes and licensing fees, as well as the launch of an economic relief fund ...
A more recent examination of H.R. 6201, Family Medical Leave Act Expansion, is available here. In the early morning hours of March 14, the House passed H.R. 6201, which now moves to the Senate, where changes are likely to be made before enactment ...
On March 4, 2020, the U.S ...
Overview and Outlook for Fintech in 2020 Technology continues to redefine our expectations in almost every area of our lives and shape the way we interact with the world ...
With the recent and rapid spread of COVID-19 in the United States, it is only a matter of time before government contractors experience contract-performance delays — whether ordered by the government or not — that inevitably will have a significant financial impact. Accordingly, federal contractors should prepare now for COVID-19-related contract delays and be prepared to establish that such delays are compensable as well as excusable. I ...
During the press conference of 13 March 2020, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager made a statement regarding the enforcement of EU State aid in connection with measures adopted by Member States to combat the negative repercussions of COVID-19 on the economy ...
We regularly work with financial institutions to navigate the challenges of implementing, maintaining, and using security procedures for commercial customers’ use of treasury management services. Security procedures are an integral part of the relationship between the financial institution and its commercial customers ...
This is an update with regard to the recent order issued by NCLT, Mumbai in the miscellaneous application of Videocon Group vs CGST Department in the matter of State Bank of India vs Videocon Industries Limited, wherein section 14 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (‘IBC’) has been invoked prohibiting initiation or continuation of any proceedings by any authority against the debtor during the moratorium period ...
This Tax Alert summarizes a recent ruling of the Karnataka Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings[1] which upheld that ‘Pre-sale and Marketing Services’ rendered by an Indian subsidiary (‘service provider’/ ‘supplier’) to its foreign parent entity ( (‘service recipient’) qualify as intermediary services, thereby subject to GST ...
This Tax Alert summarizes a recent ruling of the Gujarat High Court[1] which discussed the issue that whether a taxpayer is entitled to refund of the IGST paid on import of capital goods under Export Promotion Capital Goods (‘EPCG’) Scheme for the interim period between 1 July 2017 i.e ...
Already, the COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on the global economy and particularly on the German economy as well: interrupted international supply chains, travel restrictions, or the cancelation of major events and trade shows – all of this poses considerable challenges for the manufacturing, trade, transportation, tourism, and event organizer sectors in Germany ...
The State Taxation Administration (STA) released several announcements in the beginning of February which established preferential tax policies for facilitating the prevention and control of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and supporting enterprises to resume their business operations. Certain preferential tax treatments are specifically offered to enterprises and individuals that are directly involved in the prevention and control of the outbreak of COVID-19 ...
Companies, municipalities, and water systems must now report their per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) use to the federal government. A new federal law requires facilities using 100 pounds per year of a listed PFAS compound to self-report to the national Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Monitoring and reporting requirements are often prerequisites to cleanup and enforcement, and this collection of data may be a bellwether for the future regulation of PFAS ...
In the recent Appeal Court case of Airtel Uganda Limited v. Uganda Revenue Authority, the provisions of section 15 of Uganda’s Tax Appeals Tribunal Act (TAT Act) and their wider implications came under scrutiny. In the case at hand, Airtel Uganda Limited (Airtel), a telecommunication company, lodged an objection to an assessment raised by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on 25 February 2004 with the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT) ...
