On January 31st America’s Department of Justice surprised investors by saying it would challenge a planned merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, and Grupo Modelo, a Mexican one. European governments seem keener than ever to protect their national champions. Italy’s government, for example, recently set up a fund to invest in companies of “major national interest”. Meanwhile, China’s antitrust arm in the Ministry of Commerce is starting to make a nuisance of itself, not least by taking ages to make its mind up. It claims the power to review any deal in which the combined company would have $63m in Chinese sales and $1.5 billion of global sales—a ridiculously low threshold.  Article

Mrs. Moneypenny, the internationally read columnist at the Financial Times, has some harsh advice for women: You can’t have it all. Not even Mrs. Moneypenny. The successful columnist, author, TV personality, philanthropist and businesswomen says she’s made big sacrifices to get where she is, sacrifices that include skipping the gym and seeing less of her three children.  article

Pictet & Cie, Switzerland’s largest closely held private bank, has changed its legal structure in a move that will protect their managing partners from unlimited liability.

The change comes after Wegelin, Switzerland’s oldest private bank, was closed following the investigation by the US Department of Justice into allegations it helped US citizens dodge $1.2bn in taxes.

Under the unlimited partnership structure, Wegelin’s partners are expected to be personally liable for its activities. PICTET_PressRelease_5.2.13

China’s GNP is one half the US’s, but they are the world’s biggest energy users, the world’s biggest car market and they have the largest foreign currency reserves.  China is going nowhere but up and big.  Article