Oct 28, 2019 | Uncategorized
The Bundesjustizministerium, Germany”s Federal Ministry of Justice, has submitted draft legislation designed to combat corporate criminality. The bill provides for, among other things, significantly harsher penalties.
Going forward, businesses could be faced with significantly harsher penalties in the event of serious legal violations. The Bundesjustizministerium has submitted draft legislation to this effect, as was first reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
While the bill is not yet publicly available, media reports indicate that businesses should anticipate, among other things, the possibility of having to pay hefty sums in the event of legal violations. The reports suggest, for instance, that fines will be substantially increased. With the upper limit currently set at ten million euros, this will in future be ten percent of annual turnover in the case of companies with an annual turnover of more than 100 million euros. In other words, there is the prospect of sanctions running into billions of euros. Sanctions may be reduced considerably in return for cooperating with the investigating authorities or internal investigations.
The current upper limit of ten million euros for fines is said to have particularly hit small and medium-sized businesses but done little to deter financially robust corporations. This is now set to change.
The draft legislation also indicates that the prosecution of corporate criminality will no longer be at the discretion of the authorities. Instead, the public prosecutor”s office will have to open an investigation if a company comes under suspicion. This should lead to consistent enforcement of sanctions.
The new law is meant to ensure that companies are subject to greater accountability if executive bodies or officers commit criminal offenses or tolerate them at a lower level.
We at the commercial law firm MTR Rechtsanwälte note that it is not only significantly higher fines in response to criminal offenses that businesses need to be prepared for. The bill also creates new requirements for an effective compliance management system. Companies will be accountable not only for actions taken at an executive level but also for offenses committed by other employees if these ought to have been prevented by an effective compliance management system. The introduction of stricter compliance rules may also lead to penalties being reduced.
Compliance is becoming an increasingly important topic not only for corporations but also small and medium-sized businesses. Lawyers with experience can offer advice.
https://www.mtrlegal.com/en/legal-advice/corporate-criminal-law.html
Oct 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
When buying a new car you have the option of also ordering a factory multimedia or a sat nav system with a large display. If you wish to retrofit your new car at a later time, or equip a used vehicle with a modern infotainer with a large display, this is usually not a simple undertaking. The aftermarket offers many device models, but in most cases these models feature a small display only. Also with many of these 2-DIN systems the connection to important CAN bus based functions is either quite restricted or even completely missing.
Those times are over thanks to E>GO CORE, the innovative retrofit concept from ZENEC (http://www.zenec.com/). E>GO CORE is a clever system solution to retrofit a cutting-edge infotainer with the largest possible display into selected car models. CORE has been developed for newer or most recent VAG MIB2 models like the VW Golf 7, Polo 6, Passat Alltrack, Tiguan II and the Skoda Octavia III.
THE E>GO CORE CONCEPT
The basis of the smart concept is the CORE main model Z-E1010, with a screen size of 10.1″/25.7 cm optimally suited for the respective target vehicles. Matching to this, there are vehicle-specific mounting frame kits that contain the cable harness and the antenna adapter required for the target vehicle, ensuring simple time-saving installation and connection. The CAN based integration functions are brand and vehicle specific and include audio info of playback sources shown on the driver information display, Climatronic status info or/and control, OPS, multifunction steering wheel and also the VAG car menu or the cockpit vehicle data display.
MODERN INFOTAINER
The Z-E1010 is a top modern infotainer that impresses with its wide range of functions. Particularly user-friendly is the DAB+ tuner, which scores with its clear digital radio reception and important comfort functions: for example DABDAB Service Following, MOT Slideshow, DLS text and Comfort Scan. The FM RDS tuner ensures quality reception of radio stations in regions where the DAB broadcasting is not providing adequate coverage yet.
Two USB ports can be used for the playback of A/V files, including high resolution formats such as FLAC or MKV.
The large 10.1″/25.7 cm capacitive touchscreen with a glass surface is a delight thanks to the sharp, crisp, and brilliant images it produces. The optimized operation tree and the modern UI graphics stand for completely intuitive operation of the Z-E1010 on the road.
BLUETOOTH AND MORE
The Bluetooth 4.1 solution scores in hands-free mode with good voice quality. In addition to a speed dialing function for contact favorites and contact search by given and family name, CORE can also manage A2DP music streaming with iD3 tag content display.
If modern smartphone integration is important to you then you will get your money’s worth with the Z-E1010 through ZENEC’s SmartLink Direct, which makes apps from iOS or Android smartphones available on the CORE infotainer. SmartLink Direct mirrors the smartphone screen content on the CORE display, allowing apps to be controlled directly from the touchscreen.
WebLink® 2.0 expands the integration of online content like YouTube, ShoutCast or Audio and Video Player. The apps are rendered in landscape mode on the CORE display, for best and most convenient operation.
EXPANDABLE TO SAT NAV
With the Z-EMAP-CORE navigation package, obtainable as an option, you can upgrade the Z-E1010 to a fully-fledged naviceiver. The sat nav package is pre-installed on a 16 GB microSDHC card containing map data for 47 European countries and 6.5 million Premium POIs. The package comes with 1 year map subscription.
Oct 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
There are thousands of scenic harbours all around the world but nothing can match the iconic cityscapes of Sydney Harbour. The all-time favourite Sydney Opera House, the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, spectacular harbour precincts and harbour itself come together to present a stunning picturesque experience. The best way to experience the opulence and beauty of Sydney is aboard a private boat hire. Take in the surrounding sights, enjoy walking on the squashy gold-tinted beaches and feel the engaging ambience of Sydney from its depth. Choose from a fleet of hundreds of vessels, ranging from small boats and catamarans to luxury yachts and glass boats.
This Sydney Harbour Boat Hire is perfect for all kinds of functions and events, whether it be a corporate function, large group events catering hundreds of guests, small private parties or a romantic overnight getaway. Hiring a boat on Sydney Harbour always guarantees an unforgettable experience irrespective of events or types of boat.
Cruise past the Opera House and see the enchanting Harbour Bridge up-close. Most of the boats have a cruise route which sails by Fort Denison, Rose Bay and Shark Island letting you take in the bygone days of Sydney. Get off at some of Sydney”s pristine beaches, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim before a picnic-style lunch complemented by a glass of wine.
No matter what the occasion is, no matter what you are celebrating, tailor your charter to your exact needs. There are numerous charter agents offering all-inclusive boat hire packages for special events such as Australia Day, the Vivid light festival, Sydney”s famous New Year”s Eve and more.
Here are a few occasions where people mostly charter the cruise:
Birthday Functions – From as few as 20 guests to as huge as 950 guests, boats for hire in Sydney have packages for all. From intimate gatherings to the biggest birthday bashes, Sydney Harbour charter packages are sure to make your special day even better. Whether you want to charter a daytime cruise or an evening one, our event director will make sure that the event is personalised to your exact needs.
Hens Parties & Bucks Parties – Chartering a cruise on Sydney Harbour guarantees an unforgettable outing before you prepare for your big day. Whether you are the bride or groom to be, the charter cruise makes sure that you have a whale of a time. Forget about the food, drinks and music arrangements, the event director and crew will have it all set so that you can have a wonderful time with your friends.
Boat Hire Overnight Stays – Go out with your loved ones on a one-day vacation by hiring a boat on Sydney Harbour. An overnight boat hire would be perfect for romantic getaways or gatherings with family or friends. Luxury yachts and modern catamarans are the preferred vessels for an overnight stay.
Private Boat Tour – If you are a tourist or from interstate, boat hire in Sydney is a must. Choose from spectacular catamarans and yachts for a 3-hour tour of Sydney Harbour that sails past all the essential sights.
Oct 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
The Steinhoff accounting scandal has shaken investors. Those who have incurred losses can join the ongoing model case proceedings pursuant to the German Capital Markets Model Case Act, the Kapitalanleger-Musterverfahrensgesetz (KapMuG).
At the end of 2017, investors in Steinhoff International Holding N.V. were rocked by news of accounting irregularities. The company”s share price subsequently collapsed. We at the commercial law firm MTR Rechtsanwälte https://www.mtrlegal.com/en.html report that investors who have incurred losses can now register and assert their claims for damages as part of model case proceedings.
Model case proceedings against Steinhoff International Holding N.V. are currently being heard by the OLG Frankfurt pursuant to the KapMuG. The purpose of the model case proceedings is to establish whether Steinhoff failed to comply with its ad-hoc obligations and in doing so rendered itself liable to pay damages to its investors. The OLG Frankfurt has since designated a lead petitioner and thus officially opened model case proceedings.
For the investors, this means that they can register their claims for damages as part of the model case proceedings within a period of 6 months until the end of January 2020. Registration halts the prescription of claims and also allows the investors to join the model case proceedings and benefit from the outcome at an acceptable level of risk as regards costs. The first oral hearing begins on December 18, 2019.
Steinhoff informed the investors about the accounting irregularities on December 5, 2017. Several annual financial statements were retracted and need to be drawn up again. Moreover, the report by the auditing company is now available. It can be assumed from this that turnover and profits were inflated at Steinhoff over a period of years. The investors have incurred substantial financial losses as a result and can assert claims for damages, as Steinhoff was too late in informing about the accounting irregularities and misled others regarding the company”s valuation.
There have since been indications that Steinhoff might be interested in reaching a settlement with the shareholders. If a settlement is concluded in the context of the model case proceedings, only those investors who registered their claims as part of said proceedings will benefit directly from this.
Shareholders who acquired their shares between the IPO on December 7, 2015 and the ad-hoc announcement on December 5, 2017 may be entitled to claim damages. Lawyers with experience in the field of capital markets law can advise on damages claims and registration within the framework of the model case proceedings.
https://www.mtrlegal.com/en/legal-advice/capital-markets-law.html
Oct 24, 2019 | Finance
The human brain not only controls our thinking, feeling, and acting – it also forms our habits. This is the task of the “basal ganglia.” Composed of several nuclei, they are the part of our brain that, among other things, forms routine activities from accumulating actions.
“If a thought or activity is repeated several times, the basal ganglia eventually take control and form a new neuronal path. This automatically forms new habits – so that in the future we no longer have to consciously think about and decide what to do, but the reaction, conduct, or thinking occurs automatically,” explains Gelmi, an expert in self- and relationship competence.
Driving a car is a good example of this process. As soon as the brake lights of the vehicle in front light up, the driver behind that car will also brake. This is an automatism that is based on the frequency of this situation in everyday life. Gelmi explains the process as follows: “The more often we repeat such a process, the more neuronal connections will be formed and the stronger the reaction will be out of habit.” And because it requires little awareness, it also consumes fewer resources in the brain.
The order of this process is always the same. In a first step, an impulse is activated that triggers a certain action – in the example above, this would be the brake light. In a second step, the conduct follows, such as here the stepping on the brake pedal. Finally, the process ends with the release of dopamine in the reward center of the brain, signaling that the triggered reaction to the impulse was correct and should be repeated in the future. What applies to everyday situations can equally be used for personal success. An awareness of these functions gives us the opportunity to successfully create new habits.
For more information on Thomas Gelmi, visit: http://www.thomasgelmi.com
