After Enron
After Enron

Author: John Armour

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 30

ISBN-13:

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At the end of the twentieth century, it was thought by many that the Anglo-American system of corporate governance was performing effectively and some observers claimed to see an international trend towards convergence around this model. There can be no denying that the recent corporate governance crisis in the US has caused many to question their faith in this view. This collection of essays provides a comprehensive attempt to answer the following questions: first, what went wrong - when and why do markets misprice the value of firms, and what was wrong with the incentives set by Enron? Secondly, what has been done in response, and how well will it work - including essays on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the US, UK company law reform and European company law and auditor liability reform, along with a consideration of corporate governance reforms in historical perspective. Three approaches emerge. The first two share the premise that the system is fundamentally sound, but part ways over whether a regulatory response is required. The third view, in contrast, argues that the various scandals demonstrate fundamental weaknesses in the Anglo-American system itself, which cannot hope to be repaired by the sort of reforms that have taken place.[This essay is the introductory chapter to J. Armour and J.A. McCahery (eds.), After Enron: Improving Corporate Law and Modernising Securities Regulation in Europe and the US, forthcoming 2006 (Oxford: Hart Publishing)].

European Comparative Company Law
European Comparative Company Law

Author: Mads Tønnesson Andenæs

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2009-07-30

Total Pages: 649

ISBN-13: 0521842190

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An examination of important aspects of the company laws of seven European countries.

Private Company Law Reform
Private Company Law Reform

Author: Joseph A. McCahery

Publisher: T.M.C. Asser Press

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789067044776

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Private Company Law reform is among the most important topics for lawmakers and companies. This well-timed volume explains in details the legal reforms taking place in the principal European jurisdictions, the United States and Asia. The volume brings together a distinguished group of company law scholars to examine the factors leading to the rise of the new unincorporated entities in the US and Asia and explains in detail how private company law forms can be suitably adapted to meet a wide range of firms' needs. It examines the important reforms taking place in private company law across the EU and addresses how the reforms may lead to a more optimal environment for businesses to operate. Finally, it critically explores the advantages of introducing the European Private Company. This book is a valuable tool for scholars, corporate lawyers, practitioners, policymakers and advanced students in law, as well as for entrepreneurs in emerging and developed markets. Joseph A. McCahery is Professor of International Economic Law at Tilburg University, the Netherlands and Professor of Financial Market Regulation, Tilburg Law and Economics Center. Levinus Timmerman is Advocate General in the Supreme Court of the Netherlands and Professor of Foundations of Company Law at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Erik P.M. Vermeulen is Professor of Business Law at Tilburg University, Professor of Financial Market Regulation, Tilburg Law and Economics Center, and Vice President at the Corporate Legal Department of Philips International B.V.

After Enron
After Enron

Author: John Armour

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2006-11-14

Total Pages: 728

ISBN-13: 184731290X

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At the end of the twentieth century it was thought by many that the Anglo-American system of corporate governance was performing effectively and some observers claimed to see an international trend towards convergence around this model. There can be no denying that the recent corporate governance crisis in the US has caused many to question their faith in this view. This collection of essays provides a comprehensive attempt to answer the following questions: firstly, what went wrong - when and why do markets misprice the value of firms, and what was wrong with the incentives set by Enron? Secondly, what has been done in response, and how well will it work - including essays on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the US, UK company law reform and European company law and auditor liability reform, along with a consideration of corporate governance reforms in historical perspective. Three approaches emerge. The first two share the premise that the system is fundamentally sound, but part ways over whether a regulatory response is required. The third view, in contrast, argues that the various scandals demonstrate fundamental weaknesses in the Anglo-American system itself, which cannot hope to be repaired by the sort of reforms that have taken place. "This collection of papers by leading US and European corporate law scholars provides fresh and rigorous analyses of the recent corporate governance scandals and the strategies devised by regulators to guard against future governance failures." Randall Thomas, John Beasley Professor of Law and Business, Vanderbilt University School of Law, Vanderbilt University.

Corporate Law Reforms in Europe
Corporate Law Reforms in Europe

Author: Federico Cesare Guido Ghezzi

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 69

ISBN-13:

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This paper explores the Italian reform of corporate governance of 2003, which, for the first time, allowed corporations to choose among three different models of governance in part inspired by foreign legal systems. Italian corporations have three governance options. First, corporations may adopt the Italian traditional system of governance which has been modernized by the reform of corporate law. This model of governance is still the most influential and most commonly used in Italy. Besides the traditional model two other quot;alternativequot; systems of governance were created by the 2003 reform: the two-tier system and the one-tier system. The first model owes its basic structure to the German tradition, where the shareholders' meeting appoints a supervisory board, which then appoints a management board. In contrast, the one-tier model derives from the Anglo-American tradition. In this system the shareholders' meeting appoints the board of directors, which then appoints a number of directors to an audit committee entrusted with monitoring functions. Taking into account the initial goals of the Italian legislator in designing the 2003 reform, we illustrate how the models have been implemented in Italian practice, and describe the initial predictions of their benefits and disadvantages. Then, we provide some empirical evidence of the practical consequences of the Italian reform of corporate governance three years after its enactment, and we investigate whether the predictions mentioned above were accurate.

The Spirit of Corporate Law
The Spirit of Corporate Law

Author: Günter H. Roth

Publisher: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9783848704743

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Reading the Company Law Action Plan of the European Commission (issued on 21 May 2003) one cannot help having the impression that European company law policy has a certain focus on listed companies and will try to enhance their efficiency by way of state competition if possible, and by harmonisation only if need be. The same is true under the new Action Plan on European company law and corporate governance (issued on 12 December 2012). The book, to the contrary, is first of all based on the fact that throughout Europe only a small number of corporations are listed at all - the reality of corporate law is dominated by small and medium-size enterprises. Therefore legal standards pertaining to control transactions or investor protection and other topics of capital market law are not part of the core principles of corporate law. The question is not how to protect best the interests of shareholders but rather the interests of all parties affected by a firm's activities, including its creditors and other third parties. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union reminds us not to forget that when drawing the attention of the European legislator in the field of corporate law and freedom of establishment to directives safeguarding "the protection of the interests of members and others" (art. 50). The book is focusing on the perspective of key jurisdictions in continental Europe, such as (in an alphabetical order) Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and considering seminal inputs from Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scandinavian countries. Highlights - an up-to-date contribution to the imminent reforms in European company law emphasizing the continental European perspective - written by authors with great practical experience

European Corporate Law
European Corporate Law

Author: Adriaan F. M. et al. Dorresteijn

Publisher:

Published: 2022-07-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789403532233

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This fully updated new edition provides an overview of the law regarding companies, business organizations, and capital markets in Europe, at both the European Union (EU) and Member State levels. It introduces the reader to the EU harmonization programme and describes how this has influenced corporate law in the various EU Member States. The authors describe common denominators as well as differences in the approach of national corporate laws. The authors highlight current and emerging trends in these areas of corporate law, including: the freedom of establishment of companies within the EU; the European harmonization process and Member States' implementation of EU legislation; employee involvement in business organizations; the division of power between the different corporate bodies; the functioning and regulation of company groups; and cross-border business combinations, takeovers and restructuring tools. The laws of France, Germany and the Netherlands in particular are discussed and contrasted. This discussion also includes the United Kingdom, although no longer an EU Member State. As in earlier editions, the authors demonstrate that analysis and comparison of national corporate laws yield highly valuable general principles and observations, not least because business organizations, wherever located, tend to show a fundamentally similar set of legal characteristics. The Fourth Edition will continue to be of great value to practitioners and academics who wish to acquire a better understanding of European corporate law, in its supranational dimension as well as in the similarities and differences among the various national legal systems. It can also be used as a handbook for comparative corporate law courses.

Reforming Company and Takeover Law in Europe
Reforming Company and Takeover Law in Europe

Author: Guido Ferrarini

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780199273805

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This book examines reforms in company and takeover law, crucial to modern business and economics. Reform activity is underway in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and most other member States of the European Union. In addition, the EU is developing its own rules and reform plans. The European13th directive was enacted in December 2003- this requires modifications of member State takeover law. The European Commission has outlined the company law action plan which will lead to important directives from 2004 to 2010. This book is the first to deal comprehensively with both the 13thdirective and the EU company law action plan, providing commentary on the action plan, and critically assessing what the future may hold. The takeover law provisions in the 13th directive, including the 'break-through' rule and the controversial level playing field for takeover activities amongstEuropean member states and between them and the United States are examined.The contributions also address a wide range of topical issues including corporate disclosure, board structure, the role of non-executive and supervisory directors, remuneration of directors, responsibility of the management and the board, personal liability of board members, auditors, and conflictsof interest.The company law action plan and the two reports of the High Level Group of Company Law Experts upon which the plan was based are reproduced in full in a useful annex.

EU Corporate Law and EU Company Tax Law
EU Corporate Law and EU Company Tax Law

Author: Luca Cerioni

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2007-01-01

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 9781847205308

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With the European Union striving to become the world's most competitive economy, the developments in the two closely interconnected areas of European corporate law and European company tax law are of utmost importance. This book focuses on the crucial issues raised by these developments, on their far-reaching implications and on the key challenges to the future legislative choices. The book illustrates the key developments in EU corporate law and EU company tax law, the EU planned initiatives in these areas, and - at a time when member states increasingly tend to use company law and company tax provisions to attract businesses and investments - it suggests how future developments can contribute to the undistorted functioning of the internal market and to the strategic 'Lisbon-objective'. The explanation of these legislative and case-law developments is of use to students and indicates new opportunities for business expansion strategies throughout the European Community. The book concludes that new optional, but attractive, EU company law vehicles and company tax regimes would be, in these two areas, the only legal and effective means towards an undistorted functioning of the internal market and towards the Lisbon-objective. This ultimately gives rise to a far-reaching challenge for all debates on the future patterns of European integration. Luca Cerioni introduces new themes for academic research and discussion subjects for decision-makers and at the same time, uniquely, makes these accessible to a much wider international public of students, businesses and practitioners.