Charlotte GAUCHON
IPO prospectus: legal obligations and responsibilities
By Charlotte GAUCHON20 July 2025The prospectus is the cornerstone of any initial public offering. This dense, regulated document has a dual role: to inform potential investors and to engage the responsibility of the company going public. Inaccurate information or omissions can have considerable legal and financial consequences. Preparing for an IPO is a demanding process that requires a thorough understanding of your obligations, as detailed in our complete legal guide to IPOs. This article focuses on the rules governing the drafting, validation and distribution of the prospectus, as well as the resulting responsibilities. Publication of a prospectus is a legal requirement prior to any admission of financial securities to a regulated market or any offer to the public. The purpose of this document is to ensure that investors are provided with complete, accurate and timely information...
The life and end of the loan insurance contract
Credit insurance, Credit and consumer lawMortgage borrowers are very familiar with creditor insurance, which is often seen as a simple formality when taking out a loan. But this is a simplistic view. This complex contract deserves special attention, both during its term and when it is terminated. Special features of loan insurance Loan insurance is a complex contract that requires special attention...Credit insurance: definition, legal nature and developments
Credit insurance, Credit and consumer lawThe business world is built on trust. However, this trust is sometimes misplaced. Credit insurance offers companies a means of protecting themselves against the insolvency of their customers. This tool remains little known to the general public, but is a strategic element for many businesses. Definition and usefulness of...Credit insurance vs bond insurance: understanding the differences
Credit insurance, Credit and consumer lawThese two insurance mechanisms protect commercial transactions, but they operate differently. Confusing them can lead to costly strategic errors for businesses. Credit insurance: main features Credit insurance protects the creditor-seller against the risk of non-payment. Creditors take out this insurance to protect themselves against the insolvency of their customers. According to V....European law and credit insurance: gradual recognition
Credit insurance, Credit and consumer lawUntil the 1970s, the legal status of credit insurance in France was uncertain. European law has broken down these artificial boundaries, allowing it to develop as a genuine insurance contract. How did this development come about? What are the implications for businesses? Community competence in credit insurance The Treaty on European Union...International buyer credit - mechanisms and legal structure
Export credit, Credit and consumer lawIn international trade, financing exports is often a major challenge. Among the solutions available, buyer credit has emerged as a sophisticated instrument for smoothing international transactions while effectively spreading risk. This triangular mechanism deserves a closer look to understand its subtleties...Understanding supplier credit: pre-financing and mobilisation
Export credit, Credit and consumer lawExport operations require considerable financial resources. Exporters often have to incur significant expenses long before they receive payment from their foreign customers. That's why the banking system has developed several financing mechanisms tailored to these specific needs. Pre-financing loans: financing the period...Public financial support for export credits: a changing system
Export credit, Credit and consumer lawIn the international trade arena, public financial support for export credits is a powerful economic lever. Unknown to the general public but essential for exporting companies, this mechanism has undergone profound changes in recent decades. Here we take a look at this strategic mechanism and its legal implications for exporters.Lost, stolen, forged or unpaid cheques: what can you do?
Cheques, Credit and consumer lawWhilst cheques remain a practical means of payment, they are not without risk. In addition to the well-known problem of bounced cheques, other incidents can occur: loss, theft, forgery, etc. What should you do if you find yourself in one of these situations? What if, quite simply, the cheque...2025 panorama of banking law: key points to remember from case law and new obligations
Banking and securities lawDiscover the 5 major challenges facing banking law in 2025: the duty to warn, APR, seizures, LCB-FT compliance and digital banking.The accounting and tax treatment of property leasing: practical issues
Leasing, Credit and consumer lawHave you opted for property leasing to finance your business premises? This financing tool has its own special accounting and tax features that you need to understand. Between special provisions, financial depreciation and the treatment of purchase options, the property leasing system is complex. Understanding the hybrid nature of property leasing...Paying and being paid by cheque: what the law says
Cheques, Credit and consumer lawUsing a cheque to pay for a purchase or receive a payment seems to be part of everyday life. However, behind this apparent simplicity lie precise legal rules. Can you refuse payment by cheque? What does "handing over" a cheque really mean? What are the obligations of...The end of property leasing: terms and legal implications
Leasing, Credit and consumer lawIn the jungle of commercial contracts, property leasing occupies a unique place. Neither a traditional lease nor a traditional sale, this complex transaction merits a closer look at its possible outcomes. After all, all leasing comes to an end - sometimes planned, sometimes precipitated. And it is often at this point that complications arise...NSF cheques: understanding bank bans and their consequences
Cheques, Credit and consumer lawThe "wooden cheque". The expression alone is enough to cause concern. Writing a cheque without the necessary funds in your bank account is not a trivial act under French law. Far from being a simple oversight, it triggers a strict process known as a "bank ban", the consequences of which are...Obligations and responsibilities in property leasing
Leasing, Credit and consumer lawProperty leasing is an original legal arrangement. Neither a simple lease nor pure financing, it creates a specific balance between the parties. The lessee has access to the property without any heavy initial investment, while the lessor retains ownership of the property as security. This hybrid structure means that the obligations and obligations of the parties...Understanding how cheques are issued in France: the basics
Cheques, Credit and consumer lawDespite the proliferation of electronic means of payment, cheques still play a significant role in everyday transactions in France. However, although cheques may seem simple to handle, they are subject to precise legal rules, and failure to understand them can lead to difficulties and even disputes. For a broader understanding of the rules...The fundamentals of property leasing: definition and essential mechanisms
Leasing, Credit and consumer lawProperty leasing is an attractive option for many companies looking to finance their business premises without tying up cash. This mechanism makes it possible to acquire a building without a large initial outlay. It is a complex mechanism combining leasing and credit, and deserves to be explored in all its essential aspects. What is property leasing? Legal definition A...Loansharking: penalties and recent regulatory changes
Credit and consumer law, UsuryExcessive interest rates expose lenders to severe penalties. The anti-usury system is characterised by its dual nature, criminal and civil. In recent years, the legislator has relaxed certain rules, particularly for business loans. For a complete understanding of the concept of usurious lending, its...Usury under French law: definition, scope and rate calculation
Credit and consumer law, UsuryControlling interest rates is a major issue in protecting borrowers and businesses against abusive practices. In France, interest rates are capped under the anti-abuse system, and lenders who exceed these limits are penalised. This regulation, which is often little-known, deserves our full attention, given its practical implications...COVID-19 and banking law: exceptional measures for companies
Banking and securities lawThe COVID-19 health crisis shook up our economy in 2020. The legislator had to intervene urgently to prevent the collapse of many businesses. An unprecedented legal arsenal was deployed, temporarily modifying certain aspects of banking law. The provisions of the amended Finance Act of 23 March 2020...The new players in financing: beyond the traditional banks
Banking and securities lawThe financial landscape is changing. Traditional banking institutions are no longer the only ones offering financing solutions for businesses and individuals. New players are emerging, authorised by recent legislative changes to offer services previously reserved for banks. Electronic money institutions These entities...
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