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The Concept of a Share Buyback Under the Companies Act Corporate and M&A

The Concept of a Share Buyback Under the Companies Act

A share buyback essentially occurs when a company acquires some of its own shares through means other than by subscription. Such acquired shares are colloquially referred to as treasury shares and allow for flexibility with regards to the company’s capital structure since the sale thereof does not constitute an allotment or issue of shares and thus the restrictions imposed thereon do not apply.1 The procedure which a company must necessarily undertake in order to validly buy back its own shares is outlined in Articles 106 and 107 of the Companies Act (Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta) (the “Companies…
Clarice Debono and Joshua Chircop
31st October 2023
The Rise of the Influencer: Consumer Protection and #Sponsored Content Antitrust, Competition and Trade

The Rise of the Influencer: Consumer Protection and #Sponsored Content

Are you an influencer? Do you earn money or other benefits by creating content on social media? Influencers that are offered deals to advertise a brand’s products over social media platforms will qualify as traders and should thus disclose their adverts in a transparent manner. Over the coming weeks, the European Commission will be screening online posts to identify any sponsored posts uploaded to social media by influencers which could mislead consumers. This article will briefly consider your obligations, as an influencer, on the digital market. The rise of social media has given brand owners the ability to push their…
Laura Spiteri
24th October 2023
Sanctions 4: A General Overview of the EU Sanctions Imposed against Russia Corporate and M&A

Sanctions 4: A General Overview of the EU Sanctions Imposed against Russia

Following from the recent geopolitical developments in Ukraine, there has been a heightened interest in sanctions, specifically, those sanctions being imposed against Russia. Through this series of articles, we aim to provide a general overview of the notion of sanctions, consider the local framework through which sanctions function in Malta, illustrate the general obligations which subject persons are required to observe vis-à-vis sanctions and discuss a general overview of the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia. In this fourth article, we shall consider some salient aspects on the EU sanctions imposed on Russia. A common misconception on sanctions imposed…
Edmond Zammit Laferla and Zachary Galea
23rd October 2023
Bridging the Gender Pay Gap…New EU Rules for Pay Transparency
Landmark Judgment – Property Devolving on the Government After a Company is Rendered Defunct Breaches Human Rights Corporate and M&A

Landmark Judgment – Property Devolving on the Government After a Company is Rendered Defunct Breaches Human Rights

The unconstitutional nature of property devolving on the Government of Malta following the procedure to render a company defunct  Introduction  On 12 October 2023, the First Hall of the Civil Court in its Constitutional Jurisdiction delivered a landmark ruling in the case Carmel Cortis et vs. Office of the Prime Minister et. Essentially, the Court held that the procedure whereby property devolves upon the Government, as part of the provisions set out in the Companies Act to render a company defunct1, is unconstitutional, draconian and disproportionate because it breaches the fundamental right to property enshrined in the Constitution and in…
Matthew Muscat
19th October 2023
Court of Appeal Upholds Dismissal Decision and Affirms Jurisdiction Limits Employment and Industrial Relations

Court of Appeal Upholds Dismissal Decision and Affirms Jurisdiction Limits

In case 161/2022/LM, delivered on 11th October 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Industrial Tribunal, which found justifiable reasons for dismissal. Following the Tribunal's conclusion that the grounds for dismissal presented by the defendant company were justified, and consequently, the dismissal was fair, the former employee contested this decision in front of the Court of Appeal. The ex-employee requested the Court to overturn the Tribunal's decision, arguing that the Tribunal had not correctly assessed the evidence. In response, the company contended that the appeal was frivolous and vexatious as no point of law had been raised.…
Kristen Camilleri
16th October 2023
Sanctions 3: Duties of Subject Persons in Relation to International Sanctions Corporate and M&A

Sanctions 3: Duties of Subject Persons in Relation to International Sanctions

Following from the recent geopolitical developments in Ukraine, there has been a heightened interest in sanctions, specifically, those sanctions being imposed against Russia. Through this series of articles, we aim to provide a general overview of the notion of sanctions, consider the local framework through which sanctions function in Malta, illustrate the general obligations which subject persons are required to observe vis-à-vis sanctions and discuss a general overview of the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia. In this third article, we shall consider the additional duties of subject persons (under the PMFLTR) in relation to international sanctions. There are…
Edmond Zammit Laferla and Zachary Galea
13th October 2023