In recent times, the issue of post-retirement healthcare benefits has taken on a heightened significance for employers and sponsors of pension and health and welfare plans. Factors such as an increasing number of retirees, rising drug and healthcare costs and government cutbacks to universal healthcare programs are causing organizations to re-evaluate the extent to which they can or are willing to continue to provide post-retirement healthcare benefits ...
On 23 June 2009, Presidential Regulation No. 27 of 2009 on Integrated One-Stop Services in the Capital Investment Sector (“PR 27”) was issued. PR 27 was enacted to implement Article 26(3) of Law No. 25 of 2007 Regarding Capital Investment (“Law 25”), which requires the issuance of a Presidential Regulation for further implementation of the “one gate policy in investment services” ...
The growth in money laundering activities and terrorism financing using financial institutions requires concrete action to eradicate these criminal activities. The diversity of products, activities and information technology available in the banking sector has resulted in an increase in the use of banks for money laundering and terrorism funding ...
Bank Indonesia issued Bank Indonesia Regulation Number 11/26/PBI/2009 dated 1 July 2009 on Prudential Principles in the Implementation of Structured Products Activities for Commercial Banks (“BI Reg.11/26/PBI/2009”) ...
The Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO) came into force last week on 10 July 2009 following the passage of the Code of Practice on Employment under the RDO (Code) in the Legislative Council on 9 July 2009. Accordingly to reports in the South China Morning Post, one organisation has already said that it has prepared two cases for the Equal Opportunities Commission to tackle under the RDO ...
In Hong Kong, some companies located in comparatively less accessible areas provide shuttle bus services for employees to travel to and from the workplace. This, of course, raises issues of liability and entitlement. More specifically, in the unfortunate event of a member of staff being injured while travelling on the company shuttle, he or she is entitled to make a claim under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO) ...
Being involved in finding solutions!Bid-rigging - a Lesser known Offence in Competition LawBREAKDOWN IN NEGOTIATIONS — THE BINDING EFFECT OF A LETTER OF INTENTBy Catherine Rioux and Patrice CaillancourtYou have decided to sell your business or to initiate a business relationship with a partner. You negotiate the main terms and, before going further, you sign a letter of intent. Then, you decide to withdraw from the negotiations ...
BREAKDOWN IN NEGOTIATIONS - THE BINDING EFFECT OF A LETTER OF INTENT Catherine Rioux [email protected] Patrice André Vaillancourt [email protected] You have decided to sell your business or to initiate a business relationship with a partner. You negotiate the main terms and, before going further, you sign a letter of intent. Then, you decide to withdraw from the negotiations. Can you do it? Not necessarily ...
On July 17, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a unanimous judgment setting aside the ruling by the Quebec Court of Appeal and affirming that the employer had fulfilled its duty to accommodate in the case of Hydro-Québec v. Syndicat des employé-e-s de techniques professionnelles et de bureau d’Hydro-Québec, section locale 2000 (SCFP-FTQ). In this judgment, the Court essentially dealt with two aspects ...
The decision in KERRY - August 7, 2009 (1) In this decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed, inter alia, that the company: May oblige the pension fund to pay the Plan expenses, that is the expenses associated with the employment of actuaries, accountants, counsel and other service providers required for the administration of the Plan; May combine the defined benefit (“DB”) and the defined c
The development of economic ties in the modern world is invariably a driving force in the creation of new legal instruments, the development and improvement of regulatory control, and the establishment of entire institutions and branches of law. Such parallel progress between the economy and the law serves as collateral for the successful development of the state as a whole ...
The “statutory demand procedure” is designed to provide a fast-track method of proceeding to the winding up of a company. It creates a presumption of insolvency. The Statutory Demand is still a basis to issue a winding petition on the ground of “inability to pay debts” as was the case under the 1984 Companies Act ...
This Bill is part of the ongoing measures by the Minister of Justice and the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Bureau) to provide for the comprehensive regulation of commercial practices involving goods and services contracts used by consumers. the Consumer Protection Act (the “CPA”) contains a broad range of content and form requirements affecting the drafting, formation, execution and cancellation of nominate and identified contracts ...
ON JUNE 16, 2009, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE INTRODUCED BILL 60 ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS (THE “BILL”) IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.This Bill is part of the ongoing measures by the Minister of Justice and the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Bureau) to provide for the comprehensive regulation of commercial practices involving goods and services contracts used by consumers ...
Currently, employers can lawfully require employees to retire at 65 (the so-called default retirement age) as long as they follow the correct procedure. This has come under increasing criticism, and is currently the subject of a legal challenge by the charity Heyday (part of Age Concern). Whatever the outcome of the Heyday challenge, the Government had previously said it would review the default retirement age in 2011 to see if it was still needed ...
On August 7, 2009, the Supreme Court of Canada released its much anticipated decision of Nolan v. Kerry (Canada) Inc., a decision that concerns the ability of a plan sponsor to charge pension plan administrative expenses to the pension fund and the ability of a sponsor to use the actuarial surplus in the defined benefit portion of a pension plan to fund a contribution holiday in respect of the defined contribution portion of the plan ...
A small measure of relief may be coming to some beleaguered Michigan communities that have been struggling recently with the difficult question of what actions they can realistically take to encourage much-needed local economic development while remaining cognizant of the financial limitations associated with lower revenues, higher costs and uncertain economic projections. The answer for some might be found in recovery zone financings ...
The Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha/KPPU) has issued Regulation No. 1 of 2009 regarding Pre-Notification on Mergers, Consolidations, and Acquisitions. This regulation has been effective since 13 May 2009 ...
The Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha/KPPU) has issued Regulation No. 2 of 2009 regarding Guidelines for Intellectual Property Rights and the Application of the Anti Monopoly Law. In general the regulation refers to intellectual property rights and Article 50 (b) of Law No. 5 of 1999 on the Prohibition of Monopolistic and Unfair Business Practices (Anti-Monopoly Law) ...
On the 1st June 2009, the major parts of the Insolvency Act 2009 (“the Act”) came into operation. The Act has completely revamped the insolvency regime in Mauritius and new provisions now govern “voidable transactions” following a company liquidation. The “ordinary course of business” test, which was prevailing under the former regime, has now been abandoned and replaced by what is known as the “running account principle” ...
As more companies feel the effects of the recession, suppliers must ensure they are properly protected should customers struggle to pay their bills, fall into financial decline or, worse, insolvency. A common form of security is a Retention of Title (RoT) clause in the supplier's contract. This aims to afford the seller the ability to recover goods that have not been paid for, and/or to give precedence over other creditors should the worst happen ...
A number of laws and regulations have been promulgated in the past few years to introduce a series of changes to the existing PRC Labour Law, among which the key legislations are the PRC Labour Contract Law effective on 1 January 2008 and its detailed implementing regulations effective on 18 September 2008 ("Laws") ...
Dear Sirs, let us kindly remind you that on July 01, 2009 amendments to the Federal Law “On Limited Liability Companies” of February 08, 1998 ¹ 14-FZ (hereinafter – the “New Law”) came into force. Pursuant to it, the Articles of Association of limited liabilities companies (hereinafter – the “companies” or the “LLC”) established prior to July 01, 2009 should be brought to compliance with the New Law by January 01, 2010 ...
IntroductionAs of 8 January 2009, Belgian listed companies and financial undertakings are required to have an audit committee. The Law of 17 December 2008 on the establishment of an audit committee in listed companies and financial undertakings (the “Law”) then enters into force ...
1. IntroductionThe Royal Decree of 8 October 2008 amending the Belgian Companies Code (“BCC”) has amended the rules on financial assistance. The new rules entered into force on 1 January 2009. The Royal Decree implements European Directive 2006/68/EC amending the Second Company Law Directive. The Belgian rules on financial assistance apply to public limited-liability companies (NV/SA), private limited-liability companies (BVBA/SPRL), partnerships limited by shares (Comm ...
