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.

On Thursday, AIG announced a $4.35 billion loss for the first quarter of 2009, as compared to a net loss of $7.81 billion in the first quarter of 2008 and a net loss of $61.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Yesterday, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, General Motors announced that it is currently attempting to restructure debt held by the U.S. Treasury Department. Under a current proposal, GM would convert at least 50% of its debt held by the U.S. Treasury Department into common shares. As a result of the conversion Treasury would hold greater than 50% of GM’s common shares.

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.

Today, the House Financial Services Committee, chaired by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), held a hearing on the effects of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy on state and local governments and other publicly-funded entities.

Testifying at the hearing were the following witnesses:

Panel One:

Yesterday, Treasury released its most recent transactions report for the period ending July 20, 2010. The report shows the completed exchange of Treasury's $400 million of preferred stock in First BanCorp for $424,174,000 of mandatorily convertible preferred stock (MCP), which is equivalent to the initial investment amount of $400 million plus $24,174,000 of capitalized previously accrued and unpaid dividends.

Reports on the White House administration and members of Congress have suggested that the Treasury Department is nearing a decision to provide assistance to at least two of the Big Three U.S. automakers.

Yesterday, the Special Inspector General for the Trouble Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) released a report criticizing the Treasury Department’s role in the accelerated closure of hundreds of GM and Chrysler dealerships.

Over the past two weeks, the federal government has relied on nearly every legal authority available to address the unfolding crisis in financial institutions with large mortgage-related holdings — direct and indirect financial assistance, government takeovers and even a decision to let the bankruptcy process run its course have all come into play. Today, several new actions have been announced, together with proposals that would require Congressional action.

The Labor and Employment Group at Hogan Lovells is proud to have contributed to the 2020 version of the firm’s Doing Business in the United States Guide. The Guide provides a high-level overview of the laws and practices important to foreign investors interested in operating in the United States, including recent legal developments.