Commercial Law & Contracts, Securities Law

Applicability of Proposed Amendment to Section 251 of the DGCL to Hostile Offers

by Morrison & Foerster LLP on 5/17/2013

The Delaware State Bar Association has recently proposed an amendment to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DCGL”) that would significantly modify the way acquisitions of Delaware public companies are effected by...more

Re: Sino-Forest Corporation – When is an Indemnity Claim Really Just an Equity Claim?

by Domenico Magisano, Jason Squire | Lerners LLP on 5/16/2013

When public companies are accused of accounting irregularities, class action shareholder litigation often follows. The case of Sino-Forest Corporation (“SFC”) is such an example. Weighed down by allegations of accounting...more

Structured Thoughts -- Volume 4, Issue 8 -- May 15, 2013

by Bradley Berman, Lloyd S. Harmetz, Charles M. Horn | Morrison Foerster - Structured Products on 5/16/2013

In This Issue: Due Diligence Procedures for Structured Note Distributors; Key Issues for Yankee CDs; The SEC and FINRA: Protect Your Elders; The FSOC’s 2013 Annual Report: Increasing Exchange-Traded Product Activity;...more

"Extension of UK Takeover Code Jurisdiction"

by Michael Hatchard, Scott Hopkins | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on 5/16/2013

On 15 May, the U.K. Takeover Panel (the Panel) published its response to a consultation paper proposing to extend the jurisdiction of the U.K. Takeover Code (the Code). The Panel has concluded that the Code’s jurisdiction...more

Continuous Disclosure – What to Say and When?

by Adam Levine, Su Sze Ting | K&L Gates LLP on 5/16/2013

Key Points - Continuous disclosure is one of the key elements of ensuring market integrity. With the recent amendments to the Listing Rules and the introduction by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) of a new...more

DOJ Turns FCPA Spotlight on Financial Services Sector as Enforcement Efforts in Latin America Continue

by Demme Doufekias, Adam S. Hoffinger, Robert A. Salerno | Morrison & Foerster LLP on 5/16/2013

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of two employees of a U.S. broker-dealer, Direct Access Partners, and a senior official in Venezuela’s state economic development bank, Banco de...more

IRS Issues Final Regulations Treating Qualified Stock Dispositions as Asset Sales

by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on 5/16/2013

On May 10, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department released the long-awaited final regulations under Section 336(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, treating certain sales, exchanges, and distributions...more

SEC Issues Guidance on Disclosures Made via Social Media

by David Garcia, Michael Meskill | Jackson Walker on 5/16/2013

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") recently issued a Report of Investigation (the "Report") in which it provides helpful guidance to public companies regarding their use of social media to disclose material...more

District Court Denies Countrywide’s Motion to Dismiss AIG Suit

by Orrick - Structured Finance Group on 5/15/2013

On May 6, Judge Mariana Pfaelzer of the United States District Court for the Central District of California allowed American International Group, Inc. (AIG) to proceed with several of its claims against Bank of America and...more

SEC Roundtable Discusses Current Securities Law Topics at 33rd Annual Ray Garrett Jr. Corporate and Securities Law Institute

by Mark Reyes, Mark Wood | Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP on 5/15/2013

On May 2, Lona Nallengara and Shelley E. Parratt, the acting director and the deputy director, respectively, of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, participated in a roundtable...more

New EU rules on online and alternative dispute resolution - a win/win?

by Susan McLean | Morrison & Foerster LLP on 5/15/2013

On 22 April 2013, the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) adopted a regulation on online dispute resolution (“ODR”) and a directive on alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”). Tonio Borg, the EU's Commissioner for...more

Scam Artists From Texas And Compliance Risk Management

by Thomas Fox on 5/15/2013

Billie Sol Estes died yesterday and when it comes to scam artists from the great state of Texas, before there was Allen Stanford and his magical Certificates of Deposits located in his private bank in Antigua, there was...more

New York Appellate Court Reinstates Fraudulent Inducement Claim Against Goldman and M&T Bank

by Orrick - Structured Finance Group on 5/15/2013

On May 7, New York’s First Department appellate court reinstated CIFG Assurance North America, Inc.’s fraud claim against Goldman Sachs & Co. and M&T Bank. Last May, a New York trial court dismissed CIFG’s claim for...more

IRS Approves New Rules To Minimize Taxes Related to M&A Transactions

by Craig Circosta, Karen McConnell, Wayne Strasbaugh | Ballard Spahr LLP on 5/14/2013

The Internal Revenue Service recently adopted long-awaited regulations intended to provide a new means of minimizing taxes in M&A transactions. The newly adopted regulations take effect on May 15, 2013, under Section 336(e)...more

Q&A With Carlton Fields' Brian Rosner

by Brian Rosner | Carlton Fields on 5/14/2013

Brian Rosner is a shareholder in Carlton Fields' New York office. Q: What is the most challenging case you have worked on and what made it challenging? Originally Published in Law360, New York - April 29, 2013....more

International Bribery Charges Against Broker-Dealer Employees Result From SEC Exam

by BuckleySandler LLP on 5/14/2013

On May 7, the DOJ charged two employees of a U.S. broker-dealer and a senior official in Venezuela’s state economic development bank for their alleged roles in what the DOJ describes as a “massive international bribery...more

"Shares for Rights: Over-Sold or Under-Appreciated?"

by James Anderson, Helena Derbyshire | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on 5/14/2013

In this article we consider some alternative approaches to the proposed U.K. status of “employee shareholders,” who receive capital gains tax-exempt shares in their employer (or its parent) in return for waiving certain...more

MBIA and Bank of America Settle MBS Litigation for $1.7 Billion

by Orrick - Structured Finance Group on 5/14/2013

On May 6, monoline insurer MBIA announced that it had reached a $1.7 billion settlement with Bank of America in connection with alleged fraud and breach of contract claims related to Countrywide-issued mortgage-backed...more

At Last: Final Regulations Issued Under Section 336(e)

by Dennis Allen, Robert S. Chase II, Reginald Clark, Jeffrey Mace, Daniel McKeithen, Michael Miles, William Pauls, David Roby, Jr., Christopher Schoen, William Sheumaker, Carol Tello, more +H. Karl Zeswitz, Jr. | Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP on 5/14/2013

In a move that was nearly 27 years in the making, the Treasury Department (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued long-awaited final regulations under §336(e) (the Final Regulations) on May 10. Section 336(e)...more