Corporate and M&A news archive

Clarifying company representation on Government online platforms

23 June 2020

It has been observed that many companies are struggling to keep a clear overview of who is authorised to officially represent them through the Belgian Government’s online platforms and, in particular, who in their organisation has the required digital access rights to do so. This issue has become even more relevant since the launch of the UBO register during FY 2019.

Shareholder and corporate management body meetings during COVID-19: extension of the measures until 30 June 2020

30 April 2020

The provisions in the 9 April 2020 Royal Decree n°4 relating to general meetings and corporate management body meetings have been extended until 30 June 2020 included (previous coverage can be consulted in the 6 April, 16 April and 24 April 2020 newsflashes).

Shareholder and corporate management body meetings during COVID-19: new FAQ published

24 April 2020

Minister of Justice Koen Geens has published an FAQ on the 9 April 2020 Royal Decree regarding the organisation of general (shareholders) meetings, and meetings of corporate management bodies, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Option to postpone approval of Belgian legal entities’ financial year 2019 annual accounts confirmed by Royal Decree

16 April 2020

What follows is an update to the 6 April 2020 Newsflash, which set the context and gave an overview of possibilities offered to corporate management bodies in signing the minutes of their meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Will the approval of financial year 2019 annual accounts be postponed for all Belgian legal entities?

6 April 2020

A Royal decree is expected to be approved regarding measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 and, in particular, regarding the approval of annual accounts.

New law introduces unfair terms prohibition in B2B relations

30 April 2019

A new impactful Belgian law has recently been adopted without raising much media interest. It introduces the general principle that any clause creating an obvious imbalance in the rights and obligations of contractual parties can be cancelled.

As a result, this principle, already known in business-to-consumer (B2C) contractual relationships, is extended to business- to-business (B2B) contractual relationships. It goes without saying that this new law will have important consequences for company relationships by questioning the legality of several contracts.

Belgian parliament adopts new Companies and Associations Code

1 March 2019

The law implementing the new Belgian Companies and Associations Code will enter into force on 1 May 2019.

The main changes and their impact in practice are described on Deloitte Legal – Lawyers’s dedicated web page.

There is a fairly long transition period in which companies need to comply with the new Code.