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Sergei Stepanov of White & Case, Moscow, looks at how Russia is trying to improve corporate governance and give minority shareholders greater protection

Geoffrey Yeowart of Lovells, London, assesses the Privy Council’s ruling in the Brumark case, which created uncertainty over fixed charges, and says there are lessons to be learned from Siebe Gorman

The government has recently presented Bill 108 of 2001, which aims to modify and update the Colombian securities market regulations, before Congress. The Bill provides for comprehensive regulation, which the government believes will considerably strengthen and boost the local securities market. In particular, the Bill provides a framework that contains stronger protection mechanisms for investors and incorporates recent international developments in corporate governance. It also includes regulations aimed at guaranteeing efficiency, transparency and adequate disclosure of information related to securities transactions.

Article 17 of the Decree on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Currency was amended on July 26 2001 to facilitate the procurement of loans from foreign financial agencies. Before the amendment, foreign loans with an average maturity of 365 days had to register with the External Debt Log maintained at the Turkish Treasury within 30 days following the execution of the loan agreement. Previously, the borrower applied in person to the Treasury with a petition, accompanied by a copy of the loan agreement, to register their foreign loan.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US, "know your customer" has taken on greater importance for banks. On September 26 the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued 2 circulars to banks on this topic in reaction to the US President's Executive Order of September 24 aimed at freezing the assets of named terrorist organizations and stopping financial support for terrorists. The circulars predate the Basle Committee's guidance on customer due diligence for banks of October 4. While acknowledging the Order's extra-territorial basis, the HKMA again stressed the importance of banks in Hong Kong cooperating in international efforts against terrorist activities and not becoming involved (even innocently or accidentally) in facilitating such activities.

The most recent developments at SAir Group and Switzerland's flag carrier SAirLines (Swissair) merit a short outline of the formal proceedings regarding moratorium and composition agreement under Swiss Debt Collection and Insolvency Law. The following three steps are to be distinguished:

In line with other European and US markets, the Finnish capital markets have experienced a fairly rapid slow-down during the past year. Heavily dependent on the technology and telecommunications sectors, the aggregate market capitalization of companies listed on the Helsinki Exchanges has decreased significantly, with the main index of the Helsinki Exchanges dropping some 4,400 points from around 11,200 points to 6,800 points during a period of 12 months. Just a couple of months earlier, the HEX index had reached an all-time high on May 18 2000 at 18,331 points.

Coudert Brothers LLP 7 Ul Gasheka

Davis Polk puts JP Morgan loan in the picture

The nations of central Europe are queuing up to join the EU’s rich club. But in their haste they risk tripping over themselves and catching the west’s economic cold. Ben Maiden and Thomas Williams report from Prague, Warsaw and Budapest on how laws firms are coping