Search results for

A few recent securitization transactions have shown the benefits of this financing method. Recent reforms make it more attractive. By Sandrine Hirsch and Koen Byttebier of Stibbe Simont Monahan Duhot, Brussels

The Republic of Croatia has made its first offering of Eurobonds. The issue included an international tranche of US$300 million of 7% notes under rule 144A and a domestic tranche of Kuna 300 million. Merrill Lynch lead-managed the issue.

On April 2 1, the European Council of Industry Ministers reached agreement on important changes to the existing EU merger control regime under Council Regulation 4064/89 (the Merger Regulation). The principal amendments relate to:

The piecemeal reforms of US banking regulations do open genuine opportunities to foreign banks. Connie M Friesen and David Nissenbaum of Richards & O’Neil, LLP, New York, explain

The government of Dubai recently issued Regulation No. 2 of 1997, setting forth guidelines to be used by branches of foreign banks in calculating income tax due to the government of Dubai from taxable income arising from the conduct of business in the Emirate of Dubai.

The new managing partner of UK firm Ashurst Morris Crisp has set an agenda for European expansion. London partner Ian Nisse, elected by secret ballot of the partnership to the new role, says the firm is set to open one or two new offices within the EU. "It is no secret that Frankfurt is very high on our agenda as Germany is a very big focus of ours," says Nisse. "We are also looking at Italy and Spain." Nisse adds the firm will at the same time seek to expand its existing Brussels and Paris offices.

Dr Leopold Pfaffel, head of the legal department at Bank Austria, talks to Graham Field

Road Administration Adviser: Veikko Palotie & Co

Coudert Brothers in Moscow has added six lawyers, including one poached from French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel. Hugues de Pommereau was at Gide in Moscow for 2 years. He will work on direct investment into Russia by French clients. Bruce Bean, managing partner of the office, says: "Around 10% of our business is for French-speaking companies, and although we have lawyers fluent in French here, Hugues is the first Frenchman." Also joining the firm as associates are: Christian Moore, James Christiansen, Pavel Bakoulev, Igor Marmalidi and Jennifer Brenner. The appointments bring the total number of lawyers in the office to 16. "Business is up tremendously since last November," says Bean. "Last year the Russian equity markets left the Dow in the dust, and this year they are doing it again. Investors have got over their shyness." Bean expects to expand to 30 lawyers by the end of the year.

Dallas-based Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP opened an office in London at the end of April. At the moment staffed by four lawyers, including former Linklaters & Paines senior partner John Edwards, the office will concentrate on capital markets work. According to office managing partner Keith Hughes, this is not a new development for the firm. "We were already here, we are only adding the office to complement our existing presence. We have been doing capital markets transactions in London for several years now," he says.