Legal

New measures covering the administration of outbound investment promise faster and simpler review of many small to medium-size PRC direct investments abroad, and more careful review of others. By Neal Stender, Lin Lawrence Zhou and Yan Zeng, of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Two new sets of guidelines will further streamline the process for approval of foreign investments, but some additional restrictions have been added. By Jonathan Z Zhou, Jessica Xu and Kevin Troy, Fangda Partners.

The amended Law allows insurance companies to invest in bonds, stocks, securities investment fund shares and immovable property.

China's rejection of Coca-Cola's bid for Huiyuan Juice on anti-monopoly grounds stirred debate on protectionism, and raised unwarranted concerns about future M&A activity in the country

China's rejection of Coca-Cola's bid for Huiyuan Juice on anti-monopoly grounds stirred debate on protectionism, and raised unwarranted concerns about future M&A activity in the country

FIEs now enjoy same property tax rates as domestic companies.

FIEs required to calculate property taxes in renminbi.

Capital contribution in the form of equity gets its official go-ahead.

Commercial banks allowed to extend loans for mergers and acquisitions.