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Deutsche Telekom and Telecom Italia are to form the world’s second largest telecommunications company in what they describe as a merger of equals. The merger will be achieved through a stock swap with Deutsche Telekom shareholders owning 57% of the new company. The German government is selling part of its 72% stake in Deutsche Telekom and will hold a 40% stake in the merged company.

A senior Chinese official has confirmed that the country’s expected future membership of the WTO will lead to a relaxation of restrictions on foreign law firms. In particular, the rule that firms may open only one office would be dropped, but joint ventures between local and foreign firms will not be permitted.

Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, a San Francisco firm, has lost its executive director, a substantial group of compensation and benefits lawyers, and has had to fire another nine partners.

UK firm Trowers & Hamlins has opened an office in Cairo. The creation of the new office will allow Trowers to develop its role as a Middle Eastern regional counsel for multinational corporations.

On April 23 1999, the Commission approved the takeover of Bankers Trust Corporation by Deutsche Bank.

On April 29 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed once again rule amendments and a new proposed rule governing the custody of mutual fund assets outside the US. At the same time, it extended the date for complying with the amendments to the foreign custody rules until May 1 2000. The proposed new rule would govern the use of foreign securities depositories and in recognition that the previous standard of care was unworkable, the proposal drops the requirement that a fund’s board, adviser or domestic custodian find that fund assets will be subject to reasonable care if held by a foreign depository.

Latin America-Development plan approved by Congress

Europe-Draft ordinance bans cold calling

Italy enacts new law on securitization

Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis is selling its Wasa crispbread unit to Italy’s Barilla Alimentare. The Italian food company is paying Sfr475 million ($315 million) including debt. The deal is part of Novartis’s move to refocus its consumer health division.