Financial Industry Developments

The SEC Adopts Cross-Border Security-Based Swap Rules

On February 10, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") adopted rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to regulate both U.S. and foreign dealers who engage in security-based swap dealing activities in the U.S. The rules require non-U.S. companies to include certain transactions in their determinations of whether such companies are subject to registration as security-based swap dealers. The final rules will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, but compliance is not required until one year after the publication or the SBS Entity Counting Date, whichever comes later. Press release.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and European Commission Announce Common Approach for Transatlantic CCPs

On February 10, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") and the European Commission announced a common approach relating to requirements for transatlantic central clearing parties (CCPs). The CFTC and the European Commission will work together to adopt (1) an equivalence decision that will allow US CCPs to continue to provide services in the EU whilst complying with CFTC requirements and (2) a determination of comparability that will allow EU CCPs to provide services to US clearing members whilst complying with EU requirements. These next steps will be put into place as soon as practicable.

Rating Agency Developments

On February 9, DBRS published its methodology for rating Canadian government STRIP bonds. Report.

On February 9, DBRS published its methodology for guarantees and other forms of support. Report.

On February 9, DBRS published its methodology for rating CLOs and CDOs of large corporate credit. Report.

On February 9, DBRS published its methodology outlining cash flow assumptions DBRS applies to rating corporate credit securitizations. Report.

Distressed Debt and Restructuring Developments

Orrick Named Top Ten Bankruptcy Law Firm in Every Quarter in 2015

Once again, Orrick has been ranked a Top Ten Bankruptcy Law Firm by The Deal Pipeline. These rankings are released on a quarterly basis, compiling comprehensive deal intelligence to identify the leading law, crisis management, investment, and non-investment firms and professionals involved in bankruptcy transactions throughout the United States. After cracking the top ten in Q1, Orrick remained among the top ten bankruptcy law firms in every quarter in 2015. Read more.

Oil & Gas Bankruptcy Issues: Part 3 Unique Structuring Issues

In the third installment of our oil & gas video series, Ron and Doug explore the unique ways in which oil & gas interests are transferred, how these interests are treated in bankruptcy and offer clues as to what courts will look at when issues concerning carved-out interests arise. 

RMBS and Other Securities Litigation

Morgan Stanley Agrees to Settlement with DOJ and NYAG Totaling $3.15 Billion

On February 11, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Attorney General of State of New York announced dual settlement agreements with Morgan Stanley providing for the payment of $3.2 billion. The settlements relate to Morgan Stanley's marketing, underwriting, and issuance of RMBS from 2005-2007.

In its agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Morgan Stanley acknowledged that it had failed to disclose that certain securitized loans did not comply with applicable underwriting guidelines, and that Morgan Stanley's due diligence practices did not conform to those described in presentations to RMBS investors. Morgan Stanley will pay $2.6 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice, $150 million to the State of New York, and an additional $400 million in relief directly to consumers. Payment to the U.S. Department of Justice releases Morgan Stanley from any civil claim brought under FIRREA. DOJ Settlement Agreement. State of New York Settlement Agreement.

RMBS Trustee Seeks Court Guidance on Distribution of Settlement Proceeds

On February 5, 2016, the Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY Mellon"), in its capacity as trustee of 530 RMBS trusts, filed an Article 77 petition with the Supreme Court of the State of New York requesting instruction as to how it should distribute proceeds from an upcoming $8.5 billion settlement payment from Bank of America Corporation. The settlement payment relates to a 2011 settlement of claims arising from representations and warranties made by Countrywide Financial Corporation and Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. in connection with the 530 RMBS trusts at issue.

The petition highlights a dispute among Certificateholders in the 530 trusts regarding how settlement proceeds should most fairly be disseminated to investors. Among other consideration, the petition concerns the application of "write up" provisions—by which the principal balance on previously written-down certificates is increased—and how these provisions could affect the allocation of proceeds in over-collateralized trusts. The petition states that the distribution process may create the artificial appearance that a trust's overcollateralization target was hit, resulting in the unintended "leakage" of settlement proceeds to subordinated Certificateholders, at the expense of the senior tranches.

Petitioners request the court clarify whether BNY Mellon must: (a) pay disbursements first and subsequently adjust the overcollateralization calculation to prevent leakage; (b) pay disbursements first and make no adjustment to the overcollateralization calculation, thereby permitting leakage; or (c) change its settlement disbursement operations to "write up first and pay second." As BNY Mellon puts it: "the resolution of this question has significant consequences . . . affecting the distribution of potentially billions of dollars." Verified Petition.

European Financial Industry Developments

European Commission and U.S. CFTC Agree Common Approach on Requirements for Transatllantic CCPs

On February 10, the European Commission published a statement setting out details of the common approach it has agreed with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on requirements for transatlantic central counterparties (CCPs).

The statement explains that the agreement reached will ensure that EU CCPs will be able to do business in the U.S. more easily, and that U.S. CCPs can continue to provide services to EU companies. Read more. 

Commission Extends by One Year the Application Date for the MiFID II Package

On February 10, the European Commission published a press release announcing it is proposing a one year extension to the application date of the MiFID II legislative package (that is, the MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (MiFIR).

To implement its proposal, the Commission has published:

• A legislative proposal for a Directive amending the MiFID II Directive as regards certain dates.
• A legislative proposal for a Regulation amending MiFIR, the Market Abuse Regulation (Regulation 596/2014) (MAR) and the Regulation on improving securities settlement and regulating central securities depositories (CSDs) (Regulation 909/2014) (CSDR) as regards certain dates.

Member states must transpose the MiFID II Directive by July 3, 2016. Both the MiFID II Directive and MiFIR are scheduled to apply from January 3, 2017. Under the Commission's proposal, national competent authorities (NCAs) and market participants will have an additional year to comply with MiFID II. The proposed new application date is January 3, 2018. Read more.

Events

Credit Risk Transfer: Making a Successful Program Even Better

On February 10, Urban Institute / CoreLogic held a Sunset Seminar, "Credit Risk Transfer: Making a Successful Program Even Better"

Speakers from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Andrew Davidson & Co., Two Harbors Investment Corp., Genworth U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Urban Institute and CoreLogic provided an overview of the GSEs credit risk transfer programs, the FHFA Scorecard directives to the GSEs, the importance of REITs as investors in credit risk, the legal hurdles that must be overcome to increase participation by REITs in this market and front end risk sharing with deeper coverage MI and alternative front end and back end credit risk transfer vehicles.

To view the presentation slides in full, please click here.