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November 1 — Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue is advising US bakery company Flowers Industries on its sale of Keebler Foods, the second largest cookie and cracker manufacturer in the US, to Kellogg. The deal is valued at $3.6 billion. Jones Day M&A partners Lizanne Thomas and Robert Smith lead the team, along with Jim Landon (benefits), Rory Lyons and Candace Ridgeway (tax) and Tom Smith (antitrust). Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting for Kellogg, led by partner Daniel Neff (corporate), and assisted by partners Karen Krueger and Bruce Goldberger (benefits), and Deborah Paul (tax). Winston & Strawn M&A Partners Robert Wall and Bruce Toth are representing Keebler Foods.

The Swedish government has recently presented a proposal concerning tax relief for foreign experts, scientists and managers working in Sweden for a limited period of time. Under the proposal, income tax and social security contributions will be payable on 75% of salary for a maximum period of three years. Certain elements of remunerations related to living expenses will also be tax-free, including moving costs, travel expenses for the family between Sweden and the home country, and school costs.

Amid much controversy, the UK has chosen to adopt a restrictive form of onshore pooling as its new double tax relief system. Andrew Shilling and Neil Coles of Deloitte & Touche International Tax Services, London, report

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has made its business tax regime more aggressive by including internet information requirements.

The Human Rights Act has come into force in the UK. While the Act provides no significant new defence for taxpayers, the Inland Revenue may have to exercise its powers more carefully. By Nik Mehta, Contentious Tax Group, Linklaters, London

As part of its e-Ireland project, the Irish government has launched the Revenue On-Line Service (ROS). The service will enable the revenue authorities to collect taxes 24 hours a day, and give customers access to their account at any time.

A draft finance bill for 2001 was released in September. Individuals and companies should benefit from a reduced tax rate, however, larger firms will need to make a case-by-case assessment. Priscilla Demenge-Beauchesne of HSD Ernst & Young, Paris reviews the effects of the bill

Italian Prime Minister, Giuliano Amato, has announced a tax-cutting budget that should total a massive L42 trillion ($18.2 billion) by 2001. A figure of L50 trillion in tax cuts is predicted by 2004.

Contracts for royalty payments must be carefully scrutinized to ensure compliance with arm’s-length standards

Christine McElroy has joined UK law firm Pinsent Curtis as an associate in the corporate tax team. McElroy, who will be based in the firm's Birmingham office, joins the firm from Osborne Clarke in Bristol, where she has spent the last three years.