The uncertainties of the UK’s Brexit negotiations with the remaining 27 EU member states are weighing heavily on the UK economy. The 2 years of negotiations will not even begin until notice is served under Article 50 and the procedure as to how Article 50 can be triggered will be the subject of a Supreme Court decision expected later this month.

The European Commission has published draft legislative proposals which would require large non-EU banking firms with EU operations to establish an intermediate holding company in the EU. The proposed rules are similar to US requirements for certain non-US banking organizations to establish an intermediate holding company in the US. This note discusses the impact of the proposals on foreign banking groups and their restructuring plans, with a particular reference to US banks. It also considers the UK’s position in light of Brexit.

Introduction

ITALY

BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI DI SIENA SpA

Monte dei Paschi di Siena (“Monte Paschi”) founded in 1472 and said to be the oldest bank in the world is, at the time of publication, in a race against the clock to raise EUR 5 billion in capital by the end of December to avoid either a state bail-out or potentially being wound down by the European Central Bank (“ECB”).

Major legislative changes

Reform of English corporate insolvency framework

The Insolvency Service is reviewing responses to its consultation on significant reforms designed to improve the restructuring tools available to companies. These include:

La sentencia de 10 de noviembre de 2016 de la sala cuarta del TJUE se ha pronunciado sobre los requisitos que deben reunir las prendas de cuenta corriente para quedar cubiertas por el régimen de garantías financieras de la Directiva 47/2002.

El TJUE ha respondido a las cuestiones prejudiciales elevadas por el Tribunal Supremo de Letonia sobre el ámbito de aplicación de la Directiva, después de que los órganos de primera instancia y de apelación letones desestimaran la demanda interpuesta por una compañía letona frente a una entidad financiera.

Fraud victims and their legal counsel have gained an important, new tool for reaching across the Continent with a single ex parte order that will freeze bank accounts in multiple EU countries:  the new European Account Preservation Order. Under the EAPO, with a single freeze order, courts in any member state may, as part of any civil or commercial proceeding, freeze a debtors’ bank accounts up to a specified amount, EU-wide, with the except

Year in Review - Italian Law in 2016

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has given a preliminary ruling on when a security holder has "possession or…control" of financial collateral for the purposes of Directive 2002/47 on financial collateral arrangements. From an English law perspective, this is particularly relevant for anyone considering whether a floating charge over financial collateral qualifies as a security financial collateral arrangement (or SFCA).

Background – UK implementation and interpretation

El Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea acaba de pronunciarse sobre tres de los más importantes extremos interpretativos del régimen de garantías financieras contenido en la Directiva 47/2002.

On 23rd November 2016, the European Commission released a package of banking legislation reforms. Some of these were expected in particular those related to the minimum requirement for eligible liabilities and own funds (MREL) under the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) and the implementation of the Financial Stability Board's (FSB) total loss absorbing capacity (TLAC) principles into the MREL requirements.