Financial institutions

Articles - The Belgium Chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Restructuring & Insolvency 2020 is online. The publication, authored by Paul Van der Putten and Pieter Wouters, covers common topics in restructuring and insolvency, including issues that arise when a company is in financial difficulties, restructuring options, insolvency procedures, tax, employees, and cross-border issues in 27 jurisdictions. 

Short Reads - On 21 April 2020, the legislative proposal for the Financial Markets Repair Act 2020 (the “Proposal”) was submitted to Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer). The Proposal repairs deficiencies and omissions that have occurred in the implementation in Dutch law of certain pieces of European legislation in the field of financial markets. A number of proposed changes are related to the implementation of the (amended) fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (“AMLD”).

Articles - De coronacrisis plaatst werkgevers in de financiële sector voor nieuwe uitdagingen. Kunnen werkgevers die als gevolg van de COVID-19 uitbraak in financiële problemen zijn geraakt, variabele beloningsregelingen versoberen of zelfs afschaffen? 

Short Reads - As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, companies face various legal issues related to the disease and its spread. These issues result in disruption to business, alongside the related regulatory and contractual implications. The crisis is severely affecting financial institutions and financial markets too. Both the Dutch and European financial regulators are closely monitoring the situation given the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial markets.

Short Reads - After discussions in the Dutch Parliament leading to a late implementation of the amendment of the fourth anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing directive, the Dutch implementation will most likely be in force before 18 May 2020. In addition, the European Commission today amended its list of high-risk countries.

Short Reads - On 28 April 2020, the European Commission adopted a banking package aimed at facilitating bank lending to support the economy and help mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19-pandemic. The package intends to encourage banks to make full use of the flexibility embedded in the EU’s prudential and accounting frameworks, to allow banks to fully support citizens and companies during this pandemic by providing funding. The package includes an Interpretative Communication on the EU's accounting and prudential rules, as well as specific “quick fix” amendments to EU banking rules.

Inside Stibbe - As of 14 April, our Amsterdam office is knowledge partner of de Jurist - a new digital publication from FD Mediagroep with business news from a legal perspective. As a knowledge partner, we identify and interpret important developments in financial and economic law.

Short Reads - The spread of the coronavirus may have some consequences that affect your ability to perform your obligations under your contracts, or your co-contractors’ ability to perform theirs. We provide some insight on a few pressing questions.