Insights

New European rules on anti-money laundering The AML package was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024 and now awaits Council approval. The new European rules consist of a new European supervisor (AML Authority, AMLA), a revised directive (AMLD6), and a new regulation (Single Rule Book). See our previous article on harmonisation of the rules.

On 28 February 2024, the European Parliament (EP) approved the European Commission's proposal for a new regulation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). Despite substantial criticism (see, for example, our article), the EP left the core elements of the Commission's proposal unchanged. The draft SEP Regulation will now need to be reviewed by the EU Council, with the overall duration of the further legislative process mostly depending on whether the Council will move forward with this before the European elections in June 2024. Considering the probable upcoming shifts in the SEP landscape, this article outlines the potential ramifications of the current draft SEP Regulation (as amended by the EP) once it has been enacted.

De Brauw has filed an appeal with the Dutch Supreme Court on behalf of a former senior lecturer at the University of Groningen (RUG), requesting that an 8 January 2024 decision of the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal be set aside. The case revolves around the question of how closely courts should see to it that scientists' academic freedom and freedom of expression are safeguarded in employment termination proceedings.

Digital Realty Trust, LP (NYSE listed) has completed the sale and transfer of a 24.9% interest in data centers located in Frankfurt, Germany, to Digital Core REIT (Singapore listed) for EUR 118 million.

De Brauw advises Rabobank on EUR 1 billion tender offer for Rabobank Certificates

ENNIA, the largest insurance group in the Dutch Caribbean with insurance companies located in Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Aruba and Bonaire, and business in the other islands as well as Suriname, received a large bailout from the governments of Curacao, Sint Maarten and the Central Bank. ENNIA has been in severe financial difficulties due to mismanagement and fraudulent behaviour of its owner Parman International B.V., led by Iranian-American Hushang Ansary. De Brauw has successfully assisted the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) in litigation proceedings against Ansary and former directors of ENNIA, which resulted in a number of positive judgements ordering Ansary and the former directors to repay ENNIA hundreds of millions of Netherlands Antillean guilders in damages. The group requires alternative funding solutions at least until those funds come in.