Chile: Full OECD Membership

As a follow up to our December 27th, 2009 posting regarding proposed admission of Chile into the OECD, Chile’s admission to the OECD is now complete. Chile’s economic future has brightened considerably merely by being admitted to OCED.…

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UK: Greater Certainty on Tax Policy

The Government today published a draft Tax Framework for business. Developed in discussion with the Business-Government Forum on Tax and Globalisation, the document is intended to provide greater certainty for large businesses about the Government’s approach to the…

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EU: Macedonia Accession Talks Urged By EU

In more news on the future expansion of the European Union, the EU Parliament yesterday urged the EU to open membership negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  The new EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, also is…

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South Africa: Companies Act – Draft Regulations 2010

In April 2009 the President signed into law the Companies Act (2008). The Act is due to come into force later this year. Meanwhile, draft Regulations have been published supplementing the framework established by the Act. Included in…

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Australia: Constitutional Protection for Business

The Australian High Court has ruled in favour of protecting Australians, including Australian business, from the over reaching power exerted by quasi-judicial bodies and tribunals.  The High Court has kicked in the teeth of the NSW WorkCover Authority,…

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Zimbabwe: Investment Law Rejected by PM

Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai rejected legislation signed into law by President Robert Mugabe that forces companies to sell more than half of their shares to black investors, saying it would “scare off” foreigners. “The regulations would have…

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2009 Corruption Perceptions Index

Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows 180 countries ranked according to their perceived level of public sector corruption.  The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) table shows a country’s ranking and score, the number of surveys used to…

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Russia: Judicial Trends in Thin Capitalization

For the purpose of protecting domestic interests, most states limit taxpayers’ ability to recognize interest on loans or credits as expenses reducing corporate profit tax payments, particularly where such interest is paid to a related entity outside the…

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Australia: Tighter Restrictions on Foreign Takeovers

  The Australian government approved legislation to tighten rules preventing foreign investors from using complex takeover arragements to bypass relevant laws to gain control of an Australian company.  The changes, approved yesterday, mean financial instruments such as convertible…

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