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Slovak bank Vseobecná úverová banka completed the first east European bank's issue of subordinated bonds to private investors.

Jane M Freeberg of Watson, Farley & Williams, New York, reports on the EU Regulation blocking compliance with US sanctions against firms trading with Cuba, Iran and Libya

The Ontario Securities Commission is attempting to dispel the uncertainties surrounding the status of over-the-counter derivatives trades. By Philip Henderson and Ron Schlumpf of Stikeman, Elliott, London and Toronto

US firm White & Case is setting up a trade finance and commodity practice in London. Nicholas Budd, partner at the firm's Paris office, will head the group, which was first launched in France.

Dunrobin Mining Company is the first company to complete a privately funded project financing of a mine in Zambia. NM Rothschild & Sons arranged the financing for the company, which is part of the Reunion mining group. The loan was made in gold, and can be converted into US$4.5 million. Dunrobin will repay the bank in gold. Rothschild used the company's mining licence as security.

On December 6 1996, the ECJ issued one of the most important rulings in recent years in the continuing battle between pharmaceutical companies and 'parallel importers', ie independent traders who are able to undercut prices in expensive markets by importing bulk quantities of medicines from low-price EU countries. The Primecrown case upholds the right of parallel importers under the Single Market rules to buy and sell wherever they choose in the EU and fails to answer the claim of patent holders that parallel imports threaten research.

City firm Cameron Markby Hewitt and rival McKenna & Co have ended months of speculation by announcing that they are to merge. On December 17 the firms issued a statement that a new firm, Cameron McKenna, will open on May 1 1997. The firms elected Bill Shelford, senior partner of Cameron Markby Hewitt, as senior partner of the new firm. Managing partner will be Robert Derry-Evans, now managing partner of McKenna. The firm will be the eighth largest in the UK, with nine international offices. The firm will specialize in banking, property, corporate insurance, projects and commercial law.

Garrett & Co, the UK firm linked to big six accountant Arthur Andersen, is continuing its expansion by opening a new office in Cambridge. Gerry Fitzsimmons is managing partner. He joins from rival Taylor Vinters's Cambridge office, where he headed the commercial department. The office is hoping to recruit five lawyers who specialize in corporate finance, intellectual property or employment law. "Cambridge is an increasingly exciting place to practise these areas," explains Fitzsimmons. "There is scope here for a quality national practice. There are a lot of science companies which are growing very fast in the local marketplace." He dismisses the competition, saying: "There aren't any national firms here, and we are recruiting aggressively." The firm now has six offices in the UK.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Act 1996 and the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Act 1996 were passed to curb speculation in Singapore's real estate market. The amendments, which became effective on May 15 1996, apply to certain real property and related share transactions. Gains from disposal of any real property and shares in a private company with specified real estate assets occurring within three years from the date of acquisition of such interests are now automatically subject to income tax. The gain that is subject to tax depends on the holding period of the interest after acquisition.