Tuesday 16th March, JW Marriott, Rio de Janeiro

• The change to production-sharing agreements
• Unitisation and effect on rules for existing concession agreements
• New companies, new roles: Petrobras and Petrosal - and how IOCs fit in
• How the ANP, MME and CNPE will work together in a new regulatory model
• Local content obligations: building an industry
• Financing - BNDES' role, and the financing structures for E&P and service companies

Media Partners

Media Partners information

The European Commission in its recent report on competition issues in the food supply chain encouraged competition authorities to maintain vigorous and coherent enforcement in this sector.

This one day conference will focus on these issues with senior regulators, lawyers, economists and company representatives offering practical advice and expert comment on:

• Overview of EU and national policy announcements
• Enforcement activity and likely trends
• Information flows - the dangers: supplier/retailer contacts; 'hub and spoke' cartels; information exchange; collaboration to achieve environmental and other policy objectives; trade associations
• The customer/competitor relationship - resale price maintenance; category management, pricing (rebates, over-riders, stocking allowances, delisting)
• Buyer power - nature and sources; buyer alliances; approaches of regulators
• Consolidation: FMCG and retail mergers
• Online distribution and sales restrictions

This year's offering promises to be even bigger, with over 70 programs. We'll be kicking things off on Tuesday, April 13th, with a full slate of programming, including a day-long series of "Fundamentals" programs on the nuts and bolts of handling cross-border matters. Those sessions are organized in cooperation with the International Section of the New York State Bar Association and will qualify for "bridge the gap" CLE credit. The day's programming will be capped by our ever-popular "speed networking" event (you're guaranteed to walk away with new friends and a fist full of business cards) and the opening reception at the Grand Hyatt.

Non-compliance with state aid rules and the financial risk for business

As the last two years have shown, governments - central, regional and local - have a key role in supporting business across all sectors as countries emerge from the financial crisis.

Where public sector support granted within the EU involves a benefit, direct or indirect, for business, it is critically important to ensure that that support complies with the EU’s state aid rules. That applies whatever the kind of support - capital injections, reduced interest charges, soft loans, subsidies, grants, guarantees, tax relief, exemption from certain obligations, funding to provide specific services, provision of goods or services at an undervalue, etc.

Failure to comply with the state aid rules might result in significant financial risk for businesses, and complex legal proceedings, as well as action against the Member State. Grants of aid, or proposals to grant aid, are often challenged by competitors.

GCR has brought together a highly experienced and talented team to guide you through what you need to know about the EU’s state aid rules - whether your role is in government, in a business seeking or receiving governmental support, or a competitor of a recipient of government support.

Our distinguished team of speakers will offer practical advice and expert comment on:

• When is State finance not aid? Definition of State aid, services of special economic interest (SGEIs), the market economy investor principle (MEIP)
• Criteria for approval of state aid and an overview of the block exemption regime
• The EU Commission’s current practice and policy - experience of the past year
• The UK's current practice and policy - the Temporary Framework - pros and cons
• Restructuring aid - should aid be granted to firms in difficulty?
• Remedies
• Closing the funding gap - State aid in public-private projects
• Focus on special sectors
• Communications and broadcasting
• State aid in Transport - what the transport sector needs to know and what other sectors can learn