Every day the economic importance of national boundaries diminishes. The globalisation of world markets is proceeding with ever-increasing speed, stimulated by developments like the introduction of the single European currency, and even the smallest transactions frequently now include a cross-border element. Business executives and their advisers participating in a transaction need a clear and concise framework of understanding, which will enable them to identify the critical issues likely to affect the course of the deal and to formulate the questions on which detailed advice will be needed....