The Japanese Patent Office (JPO) updated its annual report on “Recent Trends in Business-Related Inventions” in November 2023. The report has summarized patent filings and examination trends in business-related inventions between 1997 and 2021. As for the 2020 updates, please refer to our past newsletter (click here). This article will analyze patent filing trends in … Read more
Current need and opportunities The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund recently co-invested in a US$97.6 million social bond issuance to support access to electricity in Ivory Coast. African countries, however, need around US$28 billion of investment each year for the next seven years if they are to meet the ‘Access … Read more
1. Recent CCS trends in Japan In recent years, the Japanese Government has been promoting Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) projects as part of its stated aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. So far there has only been one CCS project in Japan, a demonstration project located in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. However, in March … Read more
Ashurst’s regular briefing on the evolving risk of greenwashing and how to manage it. Welcome to the second issue of Greenwatch, where we look at the risk of greenwashing – and how companies can mitigate it. The European Union leads the way in “green” regulation – its innovative policies affect corporate behaviour beyond the EU’s … Read more
Brazil-Africa Forum 2023: AfDB Group calls for increased Brazilian investment in infrastructure and logistics An African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation to the 11th edition of the Brazil-Africa Forum has stressed the need to strengthen collaboration with Brazil through the multi-partner Lusophone Compact, to attract more private capital and co-financing for private sector transactions. The delegation … Read more
Today, FDA announced updated guidance regarding its MoCRA rollout. FDA does not intend to enforce the requirements related to cosmetic product facility registration and cosmetic product listing for an additional six months after the December 29, 2023, statutory deadline, or until July 1, 2024, to provide regulated industry additional time to comply with these requirements. … Read more
This latest edition of our Africa Business Newsletter brings you insights into the dynamic field of international arbitration. This newsletter includes: an overview of the current arbitration landscape in Africa, highlights of the latest trends and developments in Africa-related arbitrations, and a list of selected matters and references that our teams have recently handled. Introduction … Read more
Licensees, exchanges, and other market participants should prepare to comply with the listing, disclosure, capital, and other requirements that the new law imposes. On October 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California State Assembly Bill 39, which establishes the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL). The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, … Read more
Recent megadeals like ExxonMobil’s proposed US$60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Chevron’s US$53 billion move for Hess underscore the industry’s focus on delivering oil and gas as part of the energy mix. However, an accompanying drive to cut carbon emissions has generated a flurry of M&A deals over recent years. These transactions have … Read more
FDI enforcement in Europe continues to increase, with authorities focusing on acquisitions relating to strategic assets and infrastructure. Companies and advisors should take this increased scrutiny into account when drafting corporate documents, and ensure that they have a clear strategy in place to obtain FDI clearances in a timely manner. The two major FDI investigations … Read more