Last week, Fitch Ratings announced the launch of new ESG ratings system, which is intended to use a "clear methodolog[y]," of a "full assessment of ESG performance" that "allow[s] for detailed comparability." This...more
U.S. Financial Industry Developments - CFTC and SEC Announce Approval of New MOU - On June 28, 2018, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") announced that...more
U.S. Financial Industry Developments - Credit Agreements Will Require Important Updates If a Proposed New Delaware Law Is Passed - The Delaware legislature is currently contemplating an amendment to the Delaware Limited...more
SEC Proposes to Enhance Protections and Preserve Choice for Retail Investors in Their Relationships with Investment Professionals - On April 18, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to propose a package of...more
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act: FFIEC's Revised 'A Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting It Right!' On March 14, 2018, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency published an updated resource providing guidance for complying...more
Looking Out for Main Street: SEC Focuses on Retail, Cybersecurity and Cryptocurrency - The Commissioners and senior officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") addressed the public on...more
FHFA Updates Progress on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Credit Risk Transfer Programs - On July 26, 2017, the Federal Housing Finance Agency released an update on the credit risk transfer programs of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae...more
Federal Reserve and FDIC Post Resolution Plans for Eight Major Financial Firms - On July 5, 2017, the Federal Reserve Board (the "Board") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") posted the public portions of...more
Financial Industry Developments - Fee Rate Advisory #3 for Fiscal Year 2017 - On May 31, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") announced that starting July 4, 2017, the fee rates applicable to most...more
Financial Industry Developments - SEC Adopts Jobs Act Amendments - On April 5, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") announced that it has adopted amendments to increase the amount of money companies can...more
Financial Industry Developments - CFPB Proposes to Provide Flexibility in Collecting Information - On March 24, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") released a proposal to amend Equal Credit...more
Financial Industry Developments - SEC Adopts T+2 Settlement Cycle for Securities Transactions - On March 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted an amendment to Rule 15c6-1(a), shortening the...more
SEC Approves Rules to Ease Investor Access to Exhibits in Company Filings - On March 1, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt rule and form amendments that will require issuers to include a...more
CFTC Indicates Willingness to Help Incubate Fintech - On February 21, 2017, J. Christopher Giancarlo, the acting chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), has diverged from other U.S. federal...more
Financial Industry Developments - Federal Reserve Board Announces Finalized Rule Adjusting the Board's Maximum Civil Money Penalties - On January 18, 2017, the Federal Reserve Board announced that it was adjusting...more
With Fitch and DBRS [by most measures, the #3 and #4 rating agencies in a 3-player game] doling out AAA ratings for bonds backed by non-qualified mortgages that Moody’s has dubbed “risky.” Well worth keeping an eye on this...more
Financial Industry Developments - The CFPB Publishes Final Rule for Prepaid Accounts - On October 5, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "CFPB") finalized comprehensive consumer protections for...more
Council of EU Publishes Final Compromise Text of ELTIF Regulation - The Council of the EU has published an "I" item note from its General Secretariat to the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) which sets out...more
ESMA Final Draft RTS for Central Clearing of Interest Rate Swaps under EMIR - On October 2, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a report containing final draft regulatory technical standards...more
UK FCA Policy Statement on Sponsor Competence and Consultations on Joint Sponsors and Sponsor Conflicts - On September 26, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published consultation paper CP14/21, incorporating its...more
No Intervention for Class of Homeowners in Suit Against HSBC - On August 25, 2014, Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied a motion brought by a class of putative...more
Bank of England Publishes Statement on Enforcement Action Against Lloyds Bank PLC and Bank of Scotland PLC - On July 28, the Bank of England published a statement on Financial Conduct Authority enforcement action...more
Bank of England Launches New Framework to Test for Cyber Vulnerabilities - On June 10, the Bank of England launched a new framework to help identify areas where the financial sector could be vulnerable to sophisticated...more