ENGLAND AND WALES PREVIEW OF 2018 January 2018 LEGAL GUIDE HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS 01 page CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 Brexit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 Competition, Regulation and Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 Corporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Dispute Resolution . . . . . . . .

The main themes to be considered by those in the financial services industry in 2018 will include increased regulation, protection of data, the push for transparency from Europe along with the ongoing uncertainty of Brexit. We have flagged some key dates to watch out for in the upcoming year.

With miserable Christmas trading figures exacerbating an already challenging climate for UK retailers, a growing number of companies are turning to company voluntary arrangements ("CVAs") as a possible source of respite. Most commonly used by retailers and other UK companies to impose improved lease terms on their landlords, CVAs look set to come back into fashion.

Market Backdrop

On 22 January 2018, the European Commission found the Croatian plans to grant Uljanik shipyard a State guarantee for a 96 million euro loan to be in line with EU State aid rules.

With its plan, notified to the Commission on 15 January 2018, Croatia aims to enable Uljanik shipyard business continuity, overcome the adverse effects of the financial crisis on the shipbuilding industry and pay wages, suppliers and other urgent liabilities.

Within the European Union, cross-border insolvency is governed by the Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings. Since Switzerland is not a member state of the EU, the EU Regulation does not directly apply to cross-border insolvency matters that are related to Switzerland, which significantly complicates the conducting of such proceedings.

FINANCE YEAR REVIEW 2017

The biggest news for the loan market in 2017 was the announcement by Andrew Bailey of the FCA that LIBOR may cease to exist beyond 2021. In this briefing, we discuss this and other key legal developments in banking from 2017, and also highlight a few issues to look out for in 2018 and beyond.

1. Key Banking Developments in 2017

2 FEBRUARY 2018

London

Contents

1. Key Banking Developments in 2017

1

The potential discontinuation of LIBOR

FEBRUARY 2018 • SUMMARY v NEW LEGISLATION NOTIONAL PYRAMID GARRIGUES ARCHIVES CURRENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 - SPECIAL Nº50 (2009 - 2018) WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION OF NPLs IN THE EUROPEAN UNION?

INSOL Europe attended the 52nd session of Working Group V (Insolvency law) held in Vienna from 18 to 22 December 2018 in its capacity as an invited international non-governmental organisation (NGO) with observer status. Other observers included, inter alia, World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Banking Federation, the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, INSOL International, International Insolvency Institute, European Law Institute.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ADVISORY & FINANCIAL REGULATORY GROUP WEEKLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 6, 2017 Financial Regulatory Developments Focus In this week’s newsletter, we provide a snapshot of the principal US, European and global financial regulatory developments of interest to banks, investment firms, broker-dealers, market infrastructure providers, asset managers and corporates. Click here if you wish to access our Financial Regulatory Developments website.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND BREXIT BRODIES BREXIT GUIDE. www.brodies.com What might Brexit mean for financial services? On 29 March 2017 the UK’s Article 50 Notice was delivered to the European Council in Brussels, triggering the formal process for the UK’s exit from the EU. Immediately following delivery of the notice, the UK Government’s Department for Exiting the European Union issued a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill (entitled “Legislating for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union”). The paper focuses on the legal changes that will result from the UK’s exit from the EU.