Alumni News

On 25 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) answered preliminary questions in a long-awaited ruling in a case between BSH Hausgeräte GmbH (BSH) and Electrolux AB (Electrolux). The ruling clarifies certain aspects regarding cross-border patent injunctions against defendants domiciled in an EU member state and seems to broaden the possibilities of cross-border injunctions.

On 21 February 2025, in a long-awaited ruling in preliminary proceedings, the Dutch Supreme Court delivered answers to the ongoing issue of how to assess the employment status of workers (in this case, Uber drivers). In its ruling, the Supreme Court confirmed once more that no hierarchy exists among the factors relevant in determining if a legal relationship qualifies as an employment agreement existing under article 7:610 Dutch Civil Code. These factors are set out in the Deliveroo ruling.

In the first month since the inauguration, the Trump administration issued a series of executive orders and memoranda that direct the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pause enforcement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and that put a strong emphasis on fighting cartels and transnational criminal organisations (TCO). While the directives clearly represent a dramatic break from past DOJ priorities and several issues remain as "known unknowns," it bears emphasizing that they do not change the validity and enforceability of the underlying laws, including the FCPA, sanctions, export controls and terrorism offenses.

De Brauw has acted as lead counsel to Exor in its EUR 3 billion sale of Ferrari N.V. common shares through an accelerated bookbuild offering, constituting the largest ABB in the Eurozone of at least the last 10 years. The transaction will reduce concentration in Exor's portfolio and allow for a sizeable new acquisition, when such an opportunity presents itself. Exor also intends to use a portion of the proceeds to launch a new EUR 1 billion share buyback program. Following completion of the transaction, Exor will remain Ferrari's single largest shareholder with c. 20% of the economic rights and c. 30% of the voting rights in Ferrari's share capital and remains fully committed as a long-term shareholder of Ferrari. In the context of the transaction, Exor has entered into a 360-day lock-up commitment, with respect to its remaining common shares of Ferrari. Ferrari participated in the ABB by purchasing c. 10% of the total offering for c. EUR 300 million.

Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V., one of the world’s leading on-demand delivery companies, and Prosus, the global technology company, have reached conditional agreement on an envisaged recommended public offer by Prosus for all issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Just Eat Takeaway.com of EUR 20.30 (cum dividend) in cash per share. The offer values a 100% of the shares at approximately EUR 4.1 bn and is unanimously recommended by Just Eat Takeaway.com’s management board and supervisory board.

Axcel-backed Oral Care, a Sweden-based dental care service provider in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands, has signed an agreement to acquire Dutch dental care provider De Tandartsengroep (DTG). The acquisition will significantly expand the group’s presence in the Netherlands and marks another step in Oral Care’s aspirations in becoming a leading dental care group in Northern Europe.