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The Central Bank of Ireland recently approved what is believed to be one of the first regulated exchange-traded funds in Europe. Exchange-traded funds have become an extremely popular investment vehicle in the US and it is anticipated that European investors will also be attracted to the product's benefits. An exchange-traded fund permits investors to effectively purchase a correctly weighted basket of stocks to accurately track an index. It is structured to reduce costs at the fund level by providing that subscriptions and redemptions for shares in the fund take place by way of an in specie transfer of large blocks of securities of the type in which the fund is established to invest. This transfer obviates the need for the fund to purchase the securities directly in the market and thereby reduces transaction costs at the fund level. Generally, exchange-traded funds make use of equity derivatives to ensure compliance with concentration restrictions. Facilities are also generally provided for smaller investors to purchase shares on the secondary market through an accepted clearing system.

On August 10 2000, within the space of two hours, Brazil sold $9.3 billion in stocks and bonds, mostly to foreign investors. This represents the strongest sign yet that investors have regained confidence in Brazil after last year's currency devaluation.

Brazilian oil company Petroleo Brasileiro, known as Petrobras, has completed the country's largest ever international equity issue. The deal, one of the biggest ever stock sales in Latin America, was a coup for Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr, Moherdaui e Quiroga Advogados, the only national firm involved in the deal.

Duane Quiani

Leading multinationals are lobbying the Chinese government in an attempt to create positive Internet rules for the development of China's e-commerce industry. The coalition of companies hopes to prevent stringent legislation from hampering e-commerce growth.

The head of Cameron McKenna's Hong Kong corporate finance practice, along with several of his team, is heading for Brown & Wood. According to Cameron McKenna, the firm is refocusing its corporate practice in an attempt to win more lucrative cross-border M&A and securities deals.

Michael Taylor, Norton Rose

Thomas Reid, one of Davis Polk's London partners, has left the firm in favour of long term client Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Reid has become managing director in the corporate finance services department of the bank, and will continue to focus on initial public offerings and other capital markets products. Unlike many lawyers who move in-house Reid has left legal practice behind, but says he is not aware of missing his old profession just yet.

In the second part of their review of Canada’s new financial legislation, Robert McDowell and Robert Elliott of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, Toronto, look at how the law will affect foreign banks seeking to open branches or run operations in Canada

In July, following an investigation by the European Commission merger authority, Industri Kapital, a Scandinavian venture capital group, was given clearance to continue with its acquisition of Dyno, a Norwegian chemicals and explosives company. Although, outside the industry, this may not be considered newsworthy in itself, what is interesting is that Industri Kapital was only given the go-ahead subject to divestiture, which is unusual for venture capital groups. The principal concern of the the timber processing industry in Finland was that, as Industri Kapital was already dominant in the supply of formaldehyde and production of resin in Finland, the acquisition of Dyno would lead to a virtual monopoly in these areas.