On January 22, Fitch released its rating criteria for rating RMBS in Latin America. Criteria.

On January 22, Moody's released its global methodology for rating small and medium size enterprise balance sheet securitizations. Release.

On January 20, Moody's released its approach to rating ABS backed by equipment lease and loans. Release.

On January 20, Moody's released its approach to rating consumer loan backed ABS. Release.

On January 20, Moody's released its approach to rating RMBS Using the MILAN Framework. Release.

On January 20, Moody's released its global approach to rating Auto Loan- and Lease-Backed ABS. Release.

On January 20, Moody's released its global approach to rating financial guarantors. Release. Announcement.

On January 20, Moody's released its global approach to monitoring life insurance ABS. Release.

On January 20, Fitch released its rating criteria for rating Non-Performing Loan Securitisations. Criteria.

On January 16, Kroll released its methodology for rating single-family rentals. Methodology.

On January 15, DBRS released its methodology for rating companies in the asset management industry. Release.

New! Distressed Download Blog

We are excited to announce the launch of our blog, Distressed Download, a resource for the latest news and industry trends in the distressed debt and restructuring markets.

This blog is published by lawyers from Orrick's distinguished Restructuring practice and will cover global industry updates, focusing particularly on distressed assets & alternative investments, bankruptcy litigation and financial problems of municipalities, among many other topics. We will also include details on upcoming events and practice developments of interest.

To view the full site, please click here, and be sure to check in weekly for industry updates.

FCA Launches Consultation on Competition Powers

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) obtains concurrent competition powers on April 1, 2015, enabling it to enforce the prohibitions on anti-competitive behaviour in the Competition Act 1998 (CA98) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in relation to the provision of financial services. The FCA will also have powers to carry out market studies, and make market investigation references to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) under the Enterprise Act 2002 (EA02), in relation to the provision of financial services.

On January 15, 2015, the FCA launched a consultation seeking views on draft guidance papers and amendments to the FCA handbook in relation to their exercise of these powers. Consultation closes on March 13, 2015. Consultation.

Capital Requirements (Capital Buffers and Macro-prudential Measures) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 published

On January 13, 2015, the Capital Requirements (Capital Buffers and Macro-prudential Measures) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 were published.

The Regulations amend the Capital Requirements (Capital Buffers and Macro-prudential Measures) Regulations 2014 to introduce a systemic risk buffer (SRB) that will apply to ring-fenced banks (RFBs) and certain large building societies. This measure implements Articles 133 and 134 of the Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRD IV).

The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) will be responsible for setting out the framework for determining which institutions should hold the buffer and, if so, how large the buffer should be. It will need to publish this methodology by May 31, 2016. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) will be responsible for applying the framework and will have ultimate discretion over which firms must hold the buffer and its size.

The Regulations were made on January 12, 2015 and come into force, unless otherwise stated, on May 31, 2016. The systemic risk buffer is applicable from January 1, 2019. Regulations.