Historically, the United Kingdom has not had a specialised bankruptcy regime for dealing with the failures of financial institutions. Rather, these were handled under the same rules that applied to ordinary corporations.

The UK Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) confirmed on 31 Oct. 2011 that MF Global UK Limited (“MF Global UK”) will be subject to the new Special Administration Regime (“SAR”).^[1] This is the first time that the new regime, set out in The Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011 (“SAR Regulations”)^[2] has been invoked.

Background

Yesterday Treasury released "guidance on its role in the exploration of a possible initial public offering of the common stock of General Motors Company." Under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Treasury acquired 60.8% of GM's common stock and $2.1 billion of its preferred stock in connection with GM's restructuring last summer.

Today, the U.K. Treasury and Northern Rock plc separatelyannounced that the restructuring of Northern Rock will take place on January 1, 2010 (Transfer Date).

Today, HM Treasury announced the conclusion of discussions with Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds) and Royal Bank of Scotland Plc (RBS), regarding their participation in the U.K.

After holding a hearing on the topic this past July, the Congressional Oversight Panel (COP) released a report earlier this week entitled, “The Use of TARP Funds in Support and Reorganization of the Domestic Automotive Industry,” examining how TARP funds have been used to support and reorganize both

This morning, General Motors Corp. (GM) announced in a Form 8-K filing that the U.S. Treasury Department has proposed details of a reorganization plan to GM in the event that GM seeks bankruptcy protection and bankruptcy court approval for the sale of substantially all of its assets to a newly organized company (New GM) pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code (363 Sale). Following the proposed 363 Sale, the U.S.

Yesterday, in a bankruptcy court hearing held for Chrysler LLC (and 24 of its wholly owned subsidiaries), which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Thursday, U.S.

Yesterday, the United Kingdom’s Commercial Secretary to the Treasury launched a consultation on a new special-resolution regime, Special administration regime for investment firms, to strengthen the government’s ability to handle future insolvencies of failing investment banks to minimize cost and disruption of the overall national financial system.

Summary

FSA is consulting on the need for certain financial services firms to prepare and maintain Recovery and Resolution Plans (RRPs) and in addition for some of these firms, and others, to make further preparations for their investment client money and custody assets (CMA) holdings.

Why now?