France Set To Redefine Corporate Crime

It calls for changes in the definition of the crime of abus de biens sociaux - misuse of corporate property - an accusation central to many of the corruption probes which have seen 23 captains of French industry and finance placed under investigation in three years.

It also calls for legislative changes in corporate governance, including a demand that French company chairmen should have no more than four outside directorships.

The report is likely to lead to legislative changes, as it comes from a committee set up by Alain Jupp