The European Commission has issued Guidance to Member States on foreign direct investment (FDI), urging them to use all available tools at EU and national level to protect "Europe's strategic assets" in the current crisis.
Corporate & M&A
The European Central Bank (ECB) recently announced the €750bn Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP). The bond purchase programme was given statutory footing on the 24 March 2020 in line with Decision ECB/2020/440 and Decision ECB/2020/441.
COVID-19The outbreak of COVID-19 continues to have a deep impact on businesses across all sectors. The Irish Government has announced a range of further measures to combat the impact of COVID-19 on Irish businesses.
Even during the COVID-19 global pandemic, time is not standing still on business disputes.
COVID-19
COVID-19 is presenting unique and unprecedented challenges for employers, who have to quickly react to workforce related issues in an ever-evolving situation. Employers now need to make difficult decisions to ensure that their businesses can navigate their way out of this crisis. A key area of focus at this time is payroll cost reduction. Our Employment Pensions & Incentives teams have been advisi
COVID-19
With a huge upsurge in the number of people working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are facing increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks which prey on fear and anxiety. We look at how businesses can protect their interests during the current crisis, and the steps that they may need to take if they fall victim to a cyberattack.
Technology
The speed of developments in regard to the COVID-19 crisis is typified by the fact that the European Commission's State Aid Temporary Framework to support the economy (the "Temporary Framework") which was adopted on 19 March 2020 had to be amended and extended on 3 April 2020.
COVID-19
On Saturday 4th April the UK Government issued some further much needed guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the Scheme). Important questions remain outstanding but this updated guidance does bring employer a step closer to understanding the applicability of the Scheme to their employees.
COVID-19 BelfastDomestically, the Central Bank of Ireland publishes insurance corporations statistics for Q4 2019 and sets out its expectations of insurers in light of the COVID-19 emergency; At European level EIOPA publishes statement on actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the EU insurance sector.
FinanceDomestically, the Second Shareholders' Rights Directive has become operational in Ireland, and the Central Bank of Ireland has increased its engagements with firms in response to COVID-19; At European level ESMA has made recommendations to financial market participants for COVI-19 impact, and introduced a temporary requirement obliging net short position holders to report positions of 0.1% and
FinanceDomestically, the Central Bank has published a statement on essential services in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as its Consumer Protection Outlook 2020; At European level the European Commission has adopted a Temporary Framework for State aid measures to help Member States deal with the impact of COVID-19.
FinanceDomestically, the second Shareholders' Rights Directive has come into effect in Irish law; At European level ESMA has issued recommendations for financial market participants in light of COVID-19. ESMA has also set out the approach on MiFIR tick-size regime for Systematic Internalisers; launched a number of consultation papers; and relaxed requirements relating to call taping under MiFID II.
Finance
