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The Swiss legislature recently completed work on a new statute governing mergers, demergers, conversions of companies, and the transfer of assets with or without related liabilities. Most of these topics were not addressed in the Swiss Code of Obligations and thus many of the existing rules relating to mergers and demergers are based on case law or on legal principles developed over time by practitioners. Most of the code law provisions that did exist will now be replaced in their entirety.

Italian entities acting as borrowers or issuers of financial instruments in international financial transactions with foreign EU counterparties often accept to submit any controversy that may arise to the jurisdiction of a foreign court located in an EU member state.

Over recent years the Indonesian Tax Office has sought to increase state revenue from the collection of taxes. The government has set up a specialized Tax Court under Law No 14 Year 2003 to replace the existing Tax Dispute Settlement Body. The Court operates under the auspices of the Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice and Human Right (MoJ) and, to a certain extent, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for examining an appeal over tax authority stipulation. Any decision rendered by the judge is considered as binding on both parties and the remedy would possibly be through a civil review. A tax bearer may use qualified and authorized tax attorneys to provide advice or representation. Further, decree of MoF No 450 Year 2003 has ruled that only Indonesian citizens licensed by the chairman of the Tax Court and empowered with specific power of attorney may act as tax attorneys. The Court also supervises the conduct of tax attorneys during hearings. Previously, tax disputes were settled by the Tax Dispute Settlement Body, which was created by Law No 17 Year 1997.

For more than 50 years successive Irish governments have used targeted fiscal measures to attract and retain international investment in Ireland. It is clear from Budget 2004, which was approved by the Irish parliament on December 3 2003, that this strategy continues to be the cornerstone of Irish government policy in relation to foreign direct investment.

Denmark adopted a new Act on Investment Associations, Special-Purpose Associations and other collective investment schemes (CIS) on December 4 2003. The Act implements part of the UCITS Directive (Council Directive 85/611/EEC as amended) and introduces a couple of new features. The Act will in all material respects come into force on January 1 2004.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe strengthened its real estate finance and securitization practices recently in Tokyo after hiring senior Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom specialist Mark Brooks as a partner.

An appeal tribunal decision threatens to increase costs and legal uncertainty for mergers and acquisitions in the UK.

The UK's Financial Services Authority has officially ruled that banks can no longer issue tax-deductible securities that will qualify as core tier one capital.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the first steps on the road to a regulatory overhaul of US mutual funds.

Non-EU companies with securities listed in the EU could face bills of up to $10 million after European finance ministers decided to force them to comply with international accounting standards (IAS) by 2006.