News-Archive
20.04.2021Frankfurt am Main News
Dr Markus Rasner appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Singapore in Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main, 20 April 2021 – Oppenhoff partner Dr Markus Rasner has been appointed to the position of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Singapore in Frankfurt am Main.
Tax Law20.04.2021 Newsletter
Update: Tightening of the real estate transfer tax for share deals
On 21 April 2021, the Bundestag passed a reform of the real estate transfer tax. This entails a lowering of the minimum shareholding threshold and an extension of the holding periods. Real estate transfer tax can now also be incurred in case of changes of shareholders of corporations. An entirely new feature is the introduction of a stock exchange clause. We are already informing you here about these and other innovations and their practical significance - especially for transactions that are already in progress.
Employment Law16.04.2021 Newsletter
Corona Update Q2 2021: What employers should know about the planned new regulations
The Federal Minister of Labour, Hubertus Heil, presented the planned Second Ordinance amending the Corona Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance to the Federal Cabinet on 13 April 2021. This intends to extend the period of validity of the SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance up to and including 30 June 2021 and to introduce a testing offer that will be mandatory for employers.
Digital BusinessSuccession, Wealth and Foundations14.04.2021 News
Against radicalisation on the internet: Oppenhoff advises Alfred Landecker Foundation on promotion of “CeMAS” think-tank
Oppenhoff has advised the Alfred Landecker Foundation as the exclusive start-up sponsor of the think-tank “CeMAS”, short for “Centre for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy”. As a non-profit organisation, CeMAS bundles interdisciplinary expertise on topics such as conspiracy ideologies, anti-Semitism and right-wing extremism. The start-up works with an early-warning system that is unique in Germany and will enable anti-democratic trends to be identified better and earlier.
Employment Law14.04.2021 Newsletter
Corona – update on employee testing
The decisions of the Conference of the Heads of the Government of the Federal States [Ministerpräsidentenkonferenz, MPK] have so far only included calls for companies to provide far-reaching corona rapid tests for their employees. An obligation to do so still does not exist - apart from deviating regulations for certain groups of employees in individual federal states such as Berlin, Saxony and Brandenburg. The trade associations have used wide-ranging communications to urge companies to offer their employees tests and have published corresponding notices on their websites.
Mergers & Acquisitions / Private Equity14.04.2021 Newsletter
DEAL POINTS.
Are SPAC transactions conquering the German market? And how does the brand new restructuring law StaRUG affect M&A practice? There have also been important changes in the area of merger control: In the future, fewer transactions will have to be notified to the German Federal Cartel Office. We also report on a high-quality discussion on distressed M&A at the German Corporate M&A Congress and on new rulings by the Federal Court of Justice on the redemption of GmbH shares and on squeeze-outs.
07.04.2021 Newsletter
Apply now: Funding for innovative AI projects
In 2019, Germany and France undertook in the "Treaty of Aachen" to improve their cooperation in the field of research and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence (AI) and breakthrough innovations. On this basis, a joint call for the funding of innovative AI projects was launched on 3 February 2021, coordinated by the French Bpifrance (Banque Publique d'Investissement) and the DLR project management organisation. "France and Germany want to be a driving force for artificial intelligence in Europe," affirmed German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier in this connection. The total funding budget is EUR 10 million in Germany and EUR 10 million in France.
07.04.2021 Newsletter
German Competition Register Starts Operation
The new German electronic Competition Register: long planned and now ready for use. Before the Competition Register can finally go live, however, there are still final steps to be taken. Nevertheless, we are venturing a glimpse into the future and summarise the most important changes.
Employment Law30.03.2021 Newsletter
(Mandatory) use of rapid antigen tests in companies
The approval of several rapid antigen tests as well as the expected future approval of further rapid test methods provide new opportunities in the working world, but also raise some questions. By way of a government-supported appeal, the leading associations of German industry have called on companies to offer their employees weekly self-tests or rapid tests. An obligation to do so, however, currently still does not exist.
23.03.2021 Newsletter
For an innovative Europe: Germany and France draw up position paper for European industrial strategy
About a year ago, the European Commission published its factsheet for a new industrial strategy for a globally competitive, environmentally friendly and digital Europe. At that time, the corona pandemic had already demonstrated that new industrial value chains are essential if Europe is to remain strategically independent and competitive.