Panic in crypto land

The after-extinguishing of large company fires is often done by the commercial fire brigade. They take the work off the hands of the busy regular firefighters, but the affected entrepreneurs receive a hefty bill afterwards. Editor Rutger Overstegen spoke to entrepreneurs who unexpectedly received a bill and explains why they often do not get reimbursed for the costs.

Over €1 billion. That is what foreign private equity firms are offering for the HSO Group from the Netherlands. The Veenendaal-based automation company has grown rapidly in recent years under its current owner, the American Carlyle. Editor Jan Braaksma explains what kind of company it is and what makes it so attractive to private equity firms, while the merger market is at a standstill.

The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) will temporarily determine what crypto companies may and may not do. This threatens to ban marketing and accepting new customers. The crypto sector is furious. They need a license from the AFM to comply with the new European crypto regulations MiCa, but they say they are given far too little time. Things are going much better in other EU countries and that entails risks for the Netherlands, says crypto editor Pim Brasser.