Merge e sim

The SIM Group, a supplier of production equipment and post-production services, merged with California-based Chainsaw, Inc., an independent post-production facility. Chainsaw specializes in unscripted and live event television, and services a variety of programs, including the Academy Awards and American Idol.The SIM Group is majority-owned by investment firm, Granite Partners. Its operating units, SIM Digital, Bling Digital and PS Production Services, maintain offices across the USA, Canada and China.The SIM Group was represented by Stikeman Elliott LLP  with a team including Simon Romano, Kaleb Honsberger and Michael Decicco (corporate); and Justin Parappally and Kristina Vranjkovic (banking); and by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP with a team including Jan Cate and Iane Saenam (banking).Chainsaw was represented by Troy-Gould PC with a team including William Gould, Darren Freedman and Steve Mehr (corporate).The Bank of Montreal was represented by Borden Ladner … [Read more...] about The SIM Group merges with Chainsaw Inc.

At 67 years of age, it has been some time (family, colleagues, and friends aside) since James Kokonis has been “an object of affection”. But he is now. Major law firms are casting covetous eyes. His assets are being ogled. Potential suitors wonder aloud: will he or won’t he? And, as one would expect, Kokonis adopts a classic stance well-suited for people in his position: he feigns indifference.James D. Kokonis, Q.C., is the Chairman of Smart & Biggar/ Fetherstonhaugh & Co. The assets in question are his firm—Canada’s only national intellectual property boutique and widely regarded as one of the most successful practices in the country. And IP is hot. It is the turbo-charging engine of the “new economy” where the value of intellectual capital dwarfs the importance of bricks and mortar. It is the future. It is also a practice area which many of Canada’s major full-service firms have tried to master, but with mixed success. In the … [Read more...] about An Object of Affection

THE agencies widely associated with fictional super spy James Bond both serve the same purpose - gathering intelligence. But the secretive and highly-skilled organisations have very different remits, as SunOnline explains. What does MI5 do and what are its limitations? MI5 is widely understood to focus its intelligence efforts inside the UK but that isn't always the case. With threats to Britain's security often coming from abroad, the agency says it does "work outside the UK where it’s necessary to protect the UK's national security or to counter security threats". It describes itself as a "publicly accountable civilian intelligence organisation", not a "secret police force", as it does not have the power to arrest people. Reporting to the Home Office, it was formed in 1909 under British army captain Vernon Kell to identify and counteract German spies in the country, according to the Britannica. What does MI6 do? The Secret Intelligence Service, commonly referred to as MI6, … [Read more...] about How is MI5 different to MI6, what do they stand for and what do the spy agencies do?

By Tom Sims and John O'Donnell FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) - German manufacturer Voith has been a customer of Deutsche Bank for more than a century. But as the maker of hydropower and paper plants expands abroad it said it has started to hire other international banks where it would have previously considered Germany's largest lender. That could be bad news for Deutsche, which was founded in 1870 to help companies with overseas trade. In April, it said it would refocus on German customers as part of a push to restore the edge it has lost in the decade since the 2008 financial crisis. The new strategy is getting a cool reception at home. Voith and other German companies such as auto parts maker Bosch have turned to rivals and Deutsche's share of its home market has diminished. "German banks have lost ground compared to their international competitors," said Voith group treasurer Michael Hannig. "We had to differentiate and allocate our business also across some international … [Read more...] about Deutsche Bank’s retreat to Germany gets tepid welcome at home

By John O'Donnell BERLIN (Reuters) - Lawmakers are warning Germany's finance minister that they will block any attempt to invest public money into a merged Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, a deal which could require up to 10 billion euros (8.53 billion pounds) of fresh capital. They intend to deliver this message at a closed-door meeting next week with Olaf Scholz, although it is unclear whether the Social Democrat finance minister still plans to attend. "The merged bank will probably need fresh capital. One thing that we will not stand for is that the state gives more money," said Bettina Stark-Watzinger, who chairs the Bundestag's finance committee, emphasising a hurdle to any deal. Deutsche Bank's exploratory merger talks with state-backed Commerzbank come after prodding by Germany's finance ministry, which is worried about the future of the country's biggest bank. A deal would see Berlin become a shareholder in the combined group, which one German official said will need up to 10 … [Read more...] about German lawmakers ready to block public cash for Deutsche-Commerzbank