A consultation is held on a bill introducing special measures against financial undertakings (Intervention Act). The bill would amend the Financial Markets Supervision Act and the Bankruptcy Act in order to extend powers to intervene when financial undertakings find themselves in serious difficulties. The bill reflects developments within the European Union.
This newsletter discusses the draft legislative proposal for a Financial Institutions (Special Measures) Act (Wet bijzondere maatregelen financiële ondernemingen; "Intervention Act") that was recently published for consultation along with a draft explanatory memorandum and a document containing specific questions. The draft proposal would broaden the powers of the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank; "DNB") and the Minister of Finance to intervene at financial institutions that are experiencing "serious problems".
The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Security and Justice are holding a joint consultation on a bill introducing special measures against financial
A bill introducing special measures with regard to financial undertakings (Intervention Bill) has been published for consultation. The bill would extend government powers to intervene in financial undertakings which are in serious difficulties. Under the bill the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) could draw up a plan for the transfer of financial undertakings which are experiencing irreversible financial problems. DNB could submit the transfer plan to the courts and request an order to implement the transfer scheme.
On 16 September 2011 the Netherlands Supreme Court rendered an important judgment regarding the exercise by a bank of its right to reverse a direct debit (LJN BQ873 SNS Bank/Pasman q.q.). In light of this judgment it can be concluded that, in principle, a bank may exercise its right of reversal not only if the direct debit caused the account to be overdrawn or (if an overdraft facility has been granted) the limit to be exceeded, but also if the bank will, as a result of the debtor/payer's bankruptcy, be unable to recover the claim resulting from the direct debit.
(Originally published on September 29, 2011)
The Act of May 20 2011 implements EU Directive 2009/44/EC (amending the EU Settlement Finality Directive and the EU Collateral Directive), and amends the Collateral Act of August 5 2005. The Collateral Act has always been a lender-friendly implementation of the Collateral Directive. Most of its provisions have not changed and in general, the Collateral Act remains favourable to creditors in insolvency situations and other contexts.
Constitution and perfection of collateral arrangements
On March 8 2010 the Amsterdam District Court dismissed an application by the administrators of the Dutch branch of Landsbanki hf to extend the term of the emergency regulations that had been declared applicable to the Dutch branch by the court on October 13 2008.(1) As a result, the regulations ceased to apply on March 13 2010.
Facts
The Act amending the Financial Markets Supervision Act and the Bankruptcy Act (Wet tot wijziging van de Wet op het financieel toezicht en de Faillissementswet) in connection with consolidation of claims on the estate in the event of emergency regulations, moratorium on payments and bankruptcy, and requests for compensation on the grounds of the Safety Net Scheme entered into force on 16 March 20091.
On October 13 2008 the Amsterdam District Court declared the emergency regulations underthe Financial Supervision Act applicable to the Dutch branch of Landsbanki (Icesave).(1) This update looks at: