Europe: Corporate/Commercial Law

De Ondernemingsrechtbank Antwerpen bevestigt dat arbitragebedingen in internationale franchiseovereenkomsten ook geschillen over de Belgische Wet Precontractuele Informatie kunnen omvatten. Deze uitspraak volgt de lijn van het Hof van Cassatie en markeert een belangrijke verschuiving in hoe Belgische beschermingswetten worden toegepast in een internationale context.

A Belgian court has ruled that arbitration clauses in international franchise agreements can override local franchisee protections, even when disputes involve Belgium's Pre-Contractual Information Act. This landmark decision extends earlier Supreme Court precedent and fundamentally shifts how protective legislation interacts with contractual dispute resolution mechanisms in cross-border franchise relationships.

Dutch tax authorities have issued new guidance clarifying the comparability criteria for foreign pension funds seeking exemptions from Dutch corporate income tax and dividend withholding tax. The guidance addresses whether minimum age and income thresholds, as well as voluntary additional contributions, prevent foreign pension schemes from qualifying for Dutch tax relief.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled on whether buyers can recover loss of bargain damages when cancelling a ship sale contract under the 2012 Norwegian Saleform due to a seller's late delivery caused by proven negligence. The decision clarifies the scope of compensation available under clause 14 when sellers miss the cancelling date, potentially exposing sellers to significant market-difference damages in rising markets.

The Commercial Court ruled on a USD 29 million dispute over an LNG carrier charterparty's index-linked pricing formula, determining whether the "JKM-TTF spread" operated bidirectionally or only when JKM exceeded TTF. The decision examines how unprecedented market conditions—where European gas prices surged above Asian prices due to the Ukraine war—tested the contractual formula's application and whether rectification could remedy an alleged drafting oversight.

Un análisis sobre la responsabilidad fiduciaria de las entidades bancarias en la gestión de inversiones, examinando las consecuencias legales cuando un banco no ejecuta oportunamente las órdenes de un cliente y se produce la pérdida de garantías prendarias. El artículo explora los fundamentos jurídicos que sustentan la obligación de responder por daños derivados del incumplimiento de instrucciones en relaciones de inversión gestionada.

Directors face renewed scrutiny over their duties when companies trade at a loss, as the Court of Appeal clarifies the boundaries of fiduciary responsibility and the Insolvency Service reports record enforcement actions. Meanwhile, pension trustees grapple with complex affordability tests for inflation-linked increases, and employers confront stricter standards for part-time worker treatment and equal pay transparency.

A landmark High Court ruling confirms that minority shareholders can pursue unfair prejudice claims under s994 Companies Act 2006 even when their losses mirror company losses, rejecting the reflective loss principle as a barrier. The decision provides crucial clarity on shareholder remedies when directors misappropriate company funds and establishes important precedent for structuring such claims.

The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark judgment clarifying the scope of directors' duties under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, examining whether a director can act unilaterally based on personal belief when such action conflicts with fellow directors and established corporate governance arrangements. This decision has significant implications for directors, shareholders and those involved in corporate governance, particularly in private companies and investment-backed businesses with agreed exit

Employee Ownership Trusts remain one of the most tax-efficient and sustainable exit strategies for shareholders. The benefits include increased performance of the companies owned by these trusts, employee governance, and preserving legacy and culture of the companies.

Family business succession is not an event but a carefully managed process that requires early planning to protect both commercial value and family relationships. This article examines the critical pressures facing family-owned businesses in the Midlands, particularly care home groups, where regulatory compliance, operational continuity, and stakeholder confidence all depend on structured leadership transitions that begin years before any handover takes place.

Turkey's Capital Markets Board has introduced a comprehensive new framework for calculating free float ratios of publicly traded companies on Borsa Istanbul. The regulation establishes detailed criteria for determining which shareholdings should be excluded from free float calculations, including direct and indirect ownership structures through funds and other listed companies.