The Competition and Markets Authority (‟CMA”)did a stellar job, with the information and data it was provided with, during the phase 1 and phase 2 investigations of Sony’s acquisition of Kobalt’s assets, AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring Rights. Why is this merger inquiry important, for the music industry? How did it come about? Was the merger…
I was always intrigued by the way John Lobb, the superb footwear brand, managed its affairs between Paris, France, and London, United Kingdom. Well, now, I know, thanks to my exhaustive review and analysis of the England and Wales High Court (Chancery division) decision dated 8 September 2022, on whether the agreement bounding the French…
In the background, far from grabbing headlines and the limelights, the shareholders of Chanel, the Wertheimer family, have relentlessly restructured and reorganised the Chanel business, since Brexit. Sensing a massive tax opportunity, Chanel has completed its Frexit in September 2022, kissing goodbye to the nosy and invasive strategies and idiosyncrasies of the French tax administration…
Back in 2020, Penguin Random House’s acquisition of Simon & Schuster seemed a given, to all insiders from the book publishing industry. Well, they changed their tune in November 2021, when the US department of justice filed a lawsuit to block the deal. And won. Why did the Penguin Random House’s acquisition of Simon &…
The post-acquisition honeymoon phase is definitely over, between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever. The ineluctable fallout had been bubbling below the surface for some time. This is a clear message that ‟status quo” positions, on very serious political issues such as human rights’ and international law breaches by Israel in Palestine, are…
