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Since the enactment of The Provisional Regulations on Foreign-Funded Mergers and Acquisitions of Onshore Enterprises on April 12 2003, the restrictions on foreign investors who wish to acquire a company or the assets of a company that is wholly-owned by the People's Republic of China (PRC) have been relaxed.

The Finnish Parliament in February 2003 approved a new Act on Statutory Limitations (ASL). The aim of the ASL is to harmonize the several different periods of limitation in the current Finnish legislation. But the ASL will be a general act (lex generalis) and as such will be superseded by any special act (lex specialis) containing special limitation periods. The ASL is expected to become effective during the first part of 2004.

One of the most tricky aspects of an M&A transaction involves the transfer of information during the due diligence stage. In Canada, this process has traditionally occurred through the use of a physical data room. But this method of due diligence is not without its problems and inconveniences. Since 2000, electronic data rooms (EDRs) have been increasingly used internationally in a variety of types of transactions. But M&A practitioners have been cautious in adopting EDRs to support their due diligence processes. This may be attributable to the sensitivity of information in M&A deals, security concerns and perceived costs associated with the new technology.

The Austrian Ministry of Justice has published a draft bill on financial collateral arrangements (Financial Collateral Act, www.justiz.gv.at/gesetzes/). Comments are to be submitted until June 30 2003. This is the first step to implement the rules set forth in the Financial Collateral Directive (Directive 2002/47/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 6 2002 on Financial Collateral Arrangements) into domestic Austrian law. It is planned that the Financial Collateral Act will enter into force on December 1 2003.

Securities regulation in Hong Kong is failing to meet the needs of international business. If it doesn’t change soon, investors may look to Singapore instead. By Andrew Crooke

Germany's banks are reluctant to lend, so its companies are suffering. Securitization should be the answer for both. But proposed reforms will do little for corporates. Michael Evans reports on how banks are happy, but borrowers less so

A test of China's new takeover rules has shown how foreign investors can avoid a mandatory offer when increasing their stake in Chinese listed companies. Tammie Tam of Johnson Stokes & Master explains how

Davis Polk & Wardwell and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom are taking the reins on Oracle's high-profile hostile bid for PeopleSoft.

The EU official in charge of new legislation on European takeovers has criticized member states that are threatening the future of a draft directive aimed at making cross-border deals easier.

Whitney Debevoise and David Orta of Arnold & Porter look at recent rulings on class action suits that followed Argentina's bond default, and argue that negotiated restructurings are the best way to resolve sovereign debt disputes