The morning business briefing: tax avoidance on agenda

OECD focus shifts to key elements of tax structures; Hotel Indigo has Ireland in its sights

Some key elements of the tax structures used by tech companies based here are in the sights of the OECD. In an update on its project to combat aggressive tax avoidance the Paris-based organisation said that commissionaire arrangements will be targeted, Colm Keena reports.

Political pressure for action over corporate tax avoidance continues to mount ahead of this week's meeting of European leaders with the voluntary outing of the source of the Luxleaks documents detailing deals between Luxembourg and hundreds of large corporations. Lara Marlowe reports from Paris.

Hotel Indigo could be the next new hotel brand to enter the Irish market, following InterContinental's deal to lend its name to the five-star property currently operating as the Four Seasons, Mark Paul reports. IHG is lining up Indigo, a boutique brand in the mould of Starwood's W chain, for the Dublin market, while the parent group is also scouting further locations for Holiday Inn.

Germany could be left with a €500 million compensation bill after a Munich court ruled that property lender Hypo Real Estate (HRE) - the parent of Dublin-based Depfa - falsified accounts and mislead investors about its exposure to the financial crisis. Derek Scally was in Munich for the verdict

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