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The EU is preparing to radically overhaul disclosure rules for publicly-traded companies, making them responsible for disclosing information to the markets more often and more comprehensively than ever before. The European Commission is behind the proposals, announcing plans to introduce disclosure requirements that become increasingly stringent depending on the size of a business.

The US government has called on Japan to overhaul its rules on cross-border share swaps in mergers and acquisitions. Foreign businesses operating in Japan have long called on the Japanese government to liberalize the range of options open to them to finance deals. Japanese law does not allow cross-border exchange of shares if the deal involves Japanese and foreign companies, although domestic companies can exchange shares between themselves.

A recent decision of the Tax Court in Manrell questions the practice in Canada of structuring non-competition payments to obtain tax-free treatment to a vendor.

The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002 was recently published by the Irish minister for finance. The purpose of the Bill is to provide the legislative framework for the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. The Central Bank will supervise all banks, building societies, insurance companies, credit unions and other investment business firms.

Thomas Williams reports on how Italy’s lawyers are testing the country’s new takeover and securities rules and working on deals to modernize the economy

A rare sale and leaseback hotel securitization is expected to establish a template for future deals in the industry. Morgan Stanley's £531 million ($776 million) sale and leaseback for Thistle Hotels is the first successful commercial mortgage-backed securities deal (CMBS) to come from a single originator rather than using a pool of hoteliers to spread the risk.

The EU has rushed through laws that will create uniform rules to allow all companies to use collateral to support cross-border payment and security transactions, so long as the counterparty is a bank or financial institution. The European Parliament fast-tracked the collateral directive through the legislative process as a priority part of the Financial Services Action Plan, which aims to create a single European market for financial services by late 2003.

The Helsinki Exchanges are to introduce amendments to the Rules of the Stock Exchange regarding the listing process, conditions for admission to listing and disclosure requirements.

Mexico’s legislators have been busy — protecting minority shareholders, revamping the insolvency regime and overhauling securities laws. Ben Maiden reports

In the UK, Weil Gotshal & Manges closed a second football club securitization for client Bear Stearns with DLA advising Manchester United on a £30 million ($44 million) ticket receivables deal. Weil Gotshal and DLA also worked opposite each other in the same roles for Everton FC's securitization. Weil Gotshal advised Barclays Capital as lead manager on the £357 million securitization of credit card receivables by Capital One Bank. Clifford Chance advised Capital One Bank which is using the master trust structure.