MittelstandsWiki

M&A business has once again grown in the year 2006. Clear trends in this business can also be identified. German companies pursue a global acquisition strategy and do not even stop at hostile takeovers any more. Another significant fact is successful acquisitions often being made after bidding fights without prior so-called due diligence examination, i.e. without any careful examination of the company to be bought. In the following experts from Hewitt Associates in Germany list the most frequent mistakes and give recommendations for successful mergers and acquisitions. +++

Ranging from the Postal Guideline to the European Constitution, from the quality of air to antimonopoly laws: in their brochure “Political topics in Europe 2006” the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) have recently compiled their stands on 26 political subject matters of European relevance. The respective writers of the brochure give their judgment on how things are, should be and which measures have to be taken. +++

In the period from August 14th to September 25th the Amadeus Fire AG temporary work and personnel consulting agency in co-operation with other partners offer a series of free-of-charge informative events on the general anti-discrimination law (AGG). The new law took effect on August 1st 2006 and is to provide comprehensive protection against discrimination – concerning matters ranging from hiring to firing of employees. +++

As was reported by the European Commission it has set up an Internet data base containing regulations on financial services which is accessible to the general public. This data base provides complete access to those laws by which the EU regulations on financial services are cast into national legislation. The data base does also include a collection of web links providing to companies and consumers the possibility to make better use of the EU regulations in the several member states. +++

Presumably in a few days the new anti-discrimination law (AGG) will take effect. In cases of violation of the law there might be serious sanctions – besides an injunction also the liability for compensation even for personal suffering. With their brochure “The general anti-discrimination law” the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has compiled a guide for the daily practice of companies which is to help entrepreneurs to avoid mistakes punished by the law. +++

The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) presented a new report on small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) last week. According to a recent survey by the DIHK which questioned more than 20.000 SMEs, 32 percent of all companies are currently thinking that their business position is “good”, 51 percent consider it to be “satisfactory” and only 17 percent see it as “bad”. Major enterprises with more than 1.000 employees were even more optimistic. +++

In her regular podcast the German Chancellor this time addresses small and medium-sized entities (SMEs). The motto of her campaign in favour of SMEs is “Try more freedom”. In her audio and video message Mrs. Angela Merkel explains how the German government wants to put into practice the plans of the campaign. +++

A survey carried out by Compuware in co-operation with the National Initiative for Internet Security (NIFIS) revealed that 64 percent of IT decision makers use real client data for application tests thereby taking risks of having to pay fines or being punished otherwise according to the provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). This law prohibits companies from using real data for purposes other than those for which they had been collected in the first place. The survey was carried out among more than 100 German IT executives. +++

The BusinessVillage website cautions against a kind of duty to be paid which is mostly unknown: irrespective of whether you are an entrepreneur in the goods-producing industry or having your own agency, you will have to pay so-called social art contributions, if for advertising reasons you make use of the services of freelance graphic designers, copywriters or journalists. In case of disregard of this rule, you will be fined and have to make substantial additional payments, if audited by the social insurance for artists. A short guide called “Social insurance for artists – a big unknown factor for companies and agencies” is available in order to make agencies and companies aware of the problems concerning the liability to make payments to the social insurance for artists. +++

There will be a series of events organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Erfurt which are called “marketing days” and will take place under the motto “Europe – people, markets, marketing”. In total there will be seven seminars and workshops organized between September 5th and 15th which address in particular small and medium-sized entities (SMEs). Participants will be given concrete stimuli for action, advice and ideas on how to work out innovative marketing strategies. +++