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The SC adopts a decision on the inclusion of contractual set-off agreements that document a single financial transaction within the scope of application of Royal Decree-Act 5/2005 and on the insolvency classification of the credits resulting from financial swap, thus settling the disparity of criteria that existed in our lower case law with respect to such matters.

On January 4, 2016, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”) deviated from SDNY precedent and held that, despite the absence of clear Congressional intent, the avoidance powers provided for under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code can be applied extraterritorially. As a result, a fraudulent transfer of property of a debtor’s estate that occurs outside of the United States can be recovered under Section 550 of the Bankruptcy Code.

On December 14, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that claims arising from securities of a debtor’s affiliate must be subordinated to all claims or interests senior or equal to claims of the same type as the underlying securities in the bankruptcy proceeding.

Judgment of the Court of Appeal of Porto of October 8, 2015 

Culpable insolvency – Duration of disqualification of the insolvent party

On November 30, 2015, the US Federal Reserve Board approved a final rule detailing its procedures for emergency lending under Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act limited the Federal Reserve Board’s emergency lending authority to programs and facilities with “broad-based eligibility” established with the approval of the US Secretary of Treasury and prohibited lending to entities that are insolvent, among other things.

On November 12, 2015, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association re-launched the ISDA Resolution Stay Protocol. The new Protocol, called the ISDA 2015 Universal Resolution Stay Protocol, was developed in coordination with the Financial Stability Board. The ISDA 2015 Universal Resolution Stay Protocol includes an annex covering securities financing transactions, developed by ISDA with the International Capital Market Association, the International Securities Lending Association and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Judgement No. 362/2015 - Official Gazette No. 186/2015, Series II of 09/23/2015

The Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional the provision of Article 100 of the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Code, approved by Decree-Law No. 53/2004, of March 18, if interpreted as the declaration of insolvency provided therein suspends the limitation deadline of tax debts attributable to the responsible subsidiary responsible person according to the tax procedure.

Judgment of the Supreme Court of 08/10/2015

On October 28, 2015, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”) issued a decision that significantly expands the jurisdictional bases that foreign issuers can rely upon to obtain relief in the United States under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code.

BARCELONA PROVINCIAL COURT (DIVISION 15) RULING OF JUNE 31. 2015, NO. 170/2015: CHANGE IN THE RULE FOR DETERMINING THE EXISTENCE OF A GROUP UNDER THE INSOLVENCY ACT

In this judgment, the Provincial Court of Barcelona modified its previous position (despite a degree of dissent) on the concept of group for insolvency proceeding purposes.

DECISION OF THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE ON REGISTRIES AND NOTARIAL ACTIVITIES DATED OCTOBER 6, 2015: NO PUBLIC DEED REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTERING PROPERTY JUDICIALLY AWARDED IN AN INSOLVENCY PROCEEDING