Search results for

Vietnam has reached agreement in principle with its creditor banks on the restructuring of its US$1 billion debt. The move should allow Vietnam to resume commercial borrowing in the international capital markets at more favourable interest rates.

A recent US court decision could put law firm management into turmoil. The removal of partners and the closure of offices which a firm deems are not performing to standard is put into question by the Palm Beach County Circuit Court decision. The level of damages set in the case could make any sackings prohibitively expensive. The judge's comments on Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft were cutting, but it is possible the precedent may be followed in cases where less turpitude is found.

Global harmonization of over-the-counter derivatives regulation is an idea whose time has not yet come, argues Schuyler K Henderson of Baker & McKenzie, London

US firm Dewey Ballantine and the UK's Theodore Goddard have broken up their four-office joint venture in central and eastern Europe, with Dewey buying Theodore out. The divorce of the former partners follows the split in the firms' London office when Dewey announced plans for a fully independent office (see International Financial Law Review, June 1996, page 4).

France has introduced new pledging and netting provisions which will be welcomed by participants in structured financings and derivatives deals. By Stéphane Mouy of Banque Paribas and Edward Nalbantian of Watson, Farley & Williams, Paris

Since the establishment of the official Cyprus Stock Exchange in March 1996, large financial institutions have launched investment funds whose public offerings were oversubscribed almost by a factor of eight.

The government has taken steps to encourage insurance companies to provide offshore insurance services in Labuan's International Offshore Financial Centre. Although reaction in the banking market to the possibility of setting-up offshore had been good, only six insurance companies had moved to the centre.

The Finance Ministry has recently revised its policy relating to the issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) and ordinary shares (through the Depositary Receipt mechanism). It has substantially relaxed its policy on Euro-issues including clearance to non-bank finance companies to access the European market. Under the revised guidelines, non-bank financial companies registered with the Reserve Bank of India have been permitted to float Euro-issues. The new guidelines are expected to promote greater flexibility.

The following is a summary of recent developments:

Ruling in favour of the international chemical group Bayer AG, the Court of First Instance has suspended the Commission decision of January 10 1996 which stated that the activities of Bayer Spain and Bayer France, subsidiaries of Bayer AG, constituted an 'agreement' contrary of Article 85 of the EC Treaty.