Eumedion Evaluates 2017 Dutch Proxy Season

01.08.2017 NL law

On 10 July 2017, Eumedion released its evaluation of the 2017 Dutch proxy season. The evaluation reports on a number of findings, including the following two notable points:

The average number of votes cast at Dutch annual general meetings remained high, with an average of 71% for AEX companies and 68% for AMX companies. These results continue the decade-long trend of increasing shareholder participation at the AGMs of AEX and AMX companies.
Commentary and public discussion on the regulation of takeover bids for Dutch companies followed from the relatively high number of recent unsolicited bids, including: Unilever by Kraft Heinz, AkzoNobel by PPG Industries, Refresco by PAI Partners, Accell Group by Pon Holdings, and Telegraaf Media Groep by Talpa. The evaluation reports on general public concern that important Dutch companies would be sold to non-Dutch buyers intent on moving production facilities outside of the Netherlands. In particular, Eumedion identifies a recent push from segments of the business and legislative community to create a one-year “time-out” period following a hostile takeover bid during which shareholders would be forbidden to call extraordinary meetings to dismiss management board and supervisory board members.

Team

Related news

12.07.2018 NL law

Invoering UBO-register uitgesteld naar 2019

Short Reads - Nadat lange tijd de verwachting was dat het UBO-register in de zomer van 2018 operationeel zou kunnen zijn, heeft de Minister van Financiën bij brief van 20 april 2018 laten weten dat de indiening van het definitieve wetsvoorstel wordt uitgesteld tot begin 2019. Aanleiding voor deze vertraging is de inwerkingtreding van de Vijfde Anti-witwasrichtlijn (EU/2018/843).

21.06.2018 NL law

ECM seminar: ‘Major shareholders on the stock exchange’

Seminar - On 21 June 2018, Stibbe will host its annual Equity Capital Markets seminar focusing on listed companies with a major shareholder.

Team: Pieter Schütte, Derk Lemstra

12.07.2018 NL law

Wetsvoorstel omzetting aandelen aan toonder ingediend bij de Tweede Kamer

Short Reads - Op 9 april 2018 is het wetsvoorstel Wet omzetting aandelen aan toonder bij de Tweede Kamer ingediend. Het wetsvoorstel beoogt de identificatie van houders van aandelen aan toonder uitgegeven door vennootschappen in Europees Nederland en Bonaire, Eustatius en Saba (BES) mogelijk te maken.

07.06.2018 NL law

Introduction of Green Loan Principles

Short Reads - Green finance and sustainable finance are trending topics. After green bonds becoming an increasingly common financing instrument, there is a growing demand by borrowers for green loans. For lenders on the other hand, also in view of various recent initiatives of the European Union in respect of sustainability, participation in (syndicated) green loans is expected to become more important within the investment criteria of a financial institution.

Rein van Helden Partner Amsterdam

11.07.2018 NL law

Update initiatiefwetsvoorstel introductie instemmingsrecht en aanscherping vaste beloning bankiers

Short Reads - Op 25 april 2018 heeft de Afdeling advisering van de Raad van State (hierna Raad van State) een kritisch advies uitgebracht over het initiatief-wetsvoorstel om de wet op het financieel toezicht (Wft) te wijzigen. Op 5 juli 2018 is dit advies tezamen met de reactie van de initiatiefnemers van het wetsvoorstel op het advies van de Raad van State gepubliceerd, evenals het aangepaste wetsvoorstel dat is aangeboden aan de Tweede Kamer.

06.06.2018 BE law

New Companies Code submitted to Parliament: Eight proposed changes to keep in mind

Articles - On Monday 4 June 2018, the draft law for the new Belgian Companies Code was submitted to Parliament. The proposal seeks to fundamentally modernize Belgian company law. Considering the broad and sweeping nature of the changes, the new code will affect every Belgian company and any foreign company with business in Belgium in various ways.

Team: Jan Peeters, Jan Bogaert