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BRUSSELS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - European Union's second-top court on Wednesday backed an EU competition regulator's decision against a 700-million-euro ($748 million) Belgian tax scheme for 55 multinationals, in a major win for EU antitrust chief's crackdown on sweetheart tax deals.The Luxembourg-based General Court had in 2019 annulled Margrethe Vestager's decision after Belgium and about 30 of the companies challenged it.Beneficiaries of the Belgian scheme that dated from 2005 included U.S. manufacturer Magnetrol, oil company BP (BP.L), chemical producer BASF (BASFn.DE), Wabco, Cellio, Atlas Copco (ATCOa.ST) and Belgacom, now Proximus...

People walk past a logo of French bank Societe Generale in front of the company's skyscraper at the financial and business district of La Defense near Paris, France September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON/DUBLIN, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Societe Generale's (SOGN.PA) much-hyped new strategy plans were given a thumbs down by investors on Monday, underscoring uncertainty over European banks as they face a brittle economy.As a year-long boon from interest rate rises fizzles, Europe's big lenders are under a spotlight, with higher rates now upping pressure on...

The logo of Hitachi is seen at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Hitachi (6501.T) has offered to sell assets in France and Germany in a bid to address EU antitrust concerns about its proposed 1.7 billion-euro ($1.8 billion) buy of Thales' (TCFP.PA) GTS railway signalling business, a Hitachi spokesperson said on Monday.The Japanese conglomerate submitted its remedy offer last week to the European Commission, which is expected to seek feedback from Hitachi customers and rivals before...