On February 1, 2010, the Obama Administration released the fiscal year 2011 Budget of the United States. This update summarizes the principal tax provisions identified in the Budget. The prospects for passage of these proposals is uncertain and depends in large part on the priorities of Congress and the Administration and the need for specific revenue offsets. Moreover, the inclusion of a proposal in the Budget does not necessarily provide a clear path to enactment. We invite your questions about specific details of these and any other tax-related provisions of the Budget.
Client Alert | February 3, 2010
As the German economy continues to suffer heavily from the consequences of the global financial crisis, 2009 saw the introduction of many changes in the fields of corporate, securities and banking law.
Client Alert | January 20, 2010
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is closely tracking key legislative matters as the first session of the 111th Congress draws to a close. This update focuses on H.R.
Client Alert | December 8, 2009
The Turner Review, published in March this year, identified a concern that in spite of banks' efforts to enhance disclosures during 2008 and 2009, investor confidence in financial reports appeared to remain low.The seven largest UK-headquartered lending institutions -- Abbey, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, Standard Chartered and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group -- have committed to voluntarily implementing the Code for Financial Reporting Disclosures, developed by the British Bankers' Association ("BBA") (the "BBA Code"), in their 2009 year-end annual reports.Reflecting their desire to respond to market expectations, the seven institutions and the BBA have agreed to the inclusion of the BBA Code in a Discussion Paper of the Financial Services Authorit
Client Alert | November 11, 2009
On November 6, President Obama signed into law the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (the "Act"). Among other things, the Act extends the net operating loss ("NOL") carryback period from two years to as much as five years for tax years beginning in or ending in 2008 or 2009. To pay for the extension of the NOL carryback period, the Act delays until 2018 the implementation of changes in interest expense allocations that were expected to increase the foreign tax credits that could be claimed by U.S.
Client Alert | November 10, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | November 4, 2009
Two high-profile decisions have been published in the last two weeks regarding actions brought by UK Financial Services Authority ("FSA") against members of the financial services industry. Both cases show signs of an increased willingness on the part of those subject to FSA enforcement action to challenge the enforcement wing of the FSA but with variable levels of success. FSA Regulatory Decisions Committee overturns sanctions in FSA enforcement notice in market abuse case: In the first case, the FSA issued a decision on 7 October 2009, found two former Dresdner bankers had committed market abuse in March 2007 (by engaging in what was commonly known as "front running"), but following an appeal by the bankers (Christopher Parry and Darren Morton)
Client Alert | October 30, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | October 22, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | October 15, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | September 17, 2009
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is closely monitoring risks and opportunities arising from the recent and dramatic reshaping of our capital and credit markets. We are providing updates on key transactions as well as regulatory and other legal developments that we believe could prove useful to financial institutions, investors, financial sponsors and other entities.
Client Alert | August 28, 2009
On August 3, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") published for comment new Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act to prohibit "pay to play" arrangements by most investment advisers.
Client Alert | August 7, 2009
On August 7, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") announced that it was further extending the deadline for filing Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts ("FBARs") for calendar year 2008 and prior years for certain U.S. persons.
Client Alert | August 7, 2009
In his first speech as Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, on August 5, 2009, Robert Khuzami announced changes underway in the Division's procedures and organization that are intended to strengthen the agency's enforcement program. Mr.
Client Alert | August 6, 2009
On July 27, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission took several actions relating to short selling in anticipation of the expiration of interim final temporary Rules 10a-3T under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 204T of Regulation SHO. The full text of the press release can be found here. The most significant development is that, after July 31, 2009, institutional investment managers will no longer be required to report short sale and short position information to the SEC on Form SH. The following is a summary of the SEC's actions.Expiration of Short Sale and Short Position ReportingIn October 2008, the SEC adopted interim final temporary Rule 10a-3T, which requires certain institutional investment managers to make dis
Client Alert | July 30, 2009
On July 22, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") unanimously voted at its open meeting to propose for public comment a rule and amendments to various existing rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), intended to curtail so-called "pay to play" practices involving investment advisers.
Client Alert | July 28, 2009
In a settled enforcement action instituted July 21, 2009, the SEC provided significant guidance on the filing obligations of institutional investors under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Specifically, the guidance addresses the meaning of the "ordinary course of business" prong of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(i) and reflects an expansive interpretation of Section 13(d). The SEC's administrative order found that the respondent, a registered hedge fund adviser, Perry Corp., should have filed a Schedule 13D within 10 days of acquiring beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the shares of Mylan Inc.
Client Alert | July 27, 2009
On 16 July 2009, Sir David Walker, Senior Adviser at Morgan Stanley International, who has been commissioned by the UK Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and HM Treasury to undertake an independent review of corporate governance of the UK banking industry, published his consultation document -- A Review of Corporate Governance in UK Banks and Other Financial Industries.
Client Alert | July 23, 2009
Yesterday, the Obama administration (the "Administration") delivered to Congress draft legislation, the Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2009. Under the proposed legislation, managers of most hedge funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds in the U.S. would be required to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"). The existing exemption for investment advisers with fewer than 15 clients would be eliminated, and specific information reporting would be required for advisers to any "private fund." A limited exemption will continue to apply to certain "foreign private adviser
Client Alert | July 16, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | July 15, 2009
Without question, the first six months of 2009 have been a period of sharply increased enforcement activity at the Securities and Exchange Commission. The financial crisis, the new administration, new SEC leadership, increased funding and the focus of Congress and the media have all combined to encourage heightened government scrutiny. And even though it has only been a few months since a new Chairman took office, already there are tangible signs that the SEC has taken a more aggressive enforcement posture. In this alert, we review the changes the new SEC leadership has instituted and is considering, the observable impact of the new administration on enforcement activity and significant cases in key areas that reflect the agency's evolving enforcement program.I.
Client Alert | July 9, 2009
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is closely monitoring risks and opportunities arising from the recent and dramatic reshaping of our capital and credit markets. We are providing updates on key transactions as well as regulatory and other legal developments that we believe could prove useful as financial institutions, investors, financial sponsors and other entities navigate these transformative times.On July 2, 2009, the FDIC Board approved the issuance of a proposed policy statement on qualifications for failed bank acquisitions. The proposed statement is intended to provide guidance to private capital investors interested in acquiring or investing in the assets and liabilities of failed banks or thrifts. The FDIC set out nine specific questions for comment, including whe
Client Alert | July 7, 2009
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is closely monitoring risks and opportunities arising from the recent and dramatic reshaping of our capital and credit markets. We are providing updates on key transactions as well as regulatory and other legal developments that we believe could prove useful as financial institutions, investors, financial sponsors and other entities navigate these transformative times.This update discusses the recently disclosed bids in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's May 2009 auction of BankUnited Financial Corp.
Client Alert | July 1, 2009
On June 24, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") announced that it was extending the June 30, 2009 deadline for filing Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts ("FBAR"), TD F 90-22.1, to September 23, 2009, for certain taxpayers, i.e., taxpayers that properly report and pay tax on 2008 income, but that only recently learned that they have FBAR filing obligations and do not have sufficient time to gather the information necessary to complete the form. The extension follows remarks made in mid-June by IRS representatives and confirmed on Friday, June 26, by an IRS spokesperson that, based on the instructions to the revised FBAR form that was issued in October 2008, foreign hedge funds and private equity funds are included in the definition of forei
Client Alert | June 29, 2009
"What do we want?" "Gradual Change!"; "When do we want it?" "In due course." So goes the apocryphal English protest cry. There is nothing gradual about the proposals afoot to centralise policy-making on prudential supervision of financial firms at an EU level.
Client Alert | June 22, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | June 17, 2009
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is closely monitoring risks and opportunities arising from the recent and dramatic reshaping of our capital and credit markets. We are providing updates on key transactions as well as regulatory and other legal developments that we believe could prove useful as financial institutions, investors, financial sponsors and other entities navigate these transformative times.
Client Alert | June 9, 2009
This May 2009 alert focuses on Congress' expected creation of an independent commission to examine the domestic and global causes of the U.S. financial and economic crisis.
Client Alert | May 13, 2009
Congressman Sander Levin (D-Mich.) recently reintroduced legislation in the House that would tax income and gains associated with "carried interests" as ordinary income.
Client Alert | April 7, 2009
SummaryOn March 30, 2009, the SEC staff issued two no-action letters regarding the solicitation of proxies to vote in the election of directors in a situation where two dissident shareholders had submitted separate "short slates" of director nominees for election at the same annual meeting. The no-action letters permit a soliciting shareholder to "round out" its short slate of directors with the nominees of other dissident shareholders, under an expansive reading of the proviso to the "bona fide nominee" rule in Exchange Act Rule 14a-4(d). Such proviso had historically been interpreted only to permit a soliciting shareholder to "round out" its short slate with nominees of the registrant.The effect of the no-action letters is to facilit
Client Alert | April 2, 2009
Last week, the Department of the Treasury and the FDIC announced their Public-Private Investment Fund (PPIF) concept, intended to remove troubled assets from banks. Significant details of the proposal remain undefined, and public comment is sought.As announced, private investors and the Treasury will invest side-by-side in PPIFs, and will share in both profits and losses. Treasury financing also will be available. Additionally, PPIFs may issue FDIC-guaranteed debt. Details of the capitalization of PPIFs, the terms of the potential investments and financing, the accounting and regulatory implications for banks that sell assets to PPIFs and related matters have not been finalized. Similarly, while officials have stated that compensation limits will not apply to
Client Alert | March 30, 2009
The staff of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has corrected its advice that was the basis for our earlier client alert on this subject, so we are reissuing this alert to reflect the NYSE's corrected advice.
Client Alert | March 26, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | March 23, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | March 4, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | February 25, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.We are providing updates on key regulatory and legislative issues, as well as information on legal issues that we believe could prove useful as firms and other entities navigate these challenging times.
Client Alert | February 25, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Act") is expected to be signed into law by President Obama today. The approximately 11oo pages of the Stimulus Act include a number of tax provisions.
Client Alert | February 17, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is closely tracking government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed a dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | February 17, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | February 10, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | February 4, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | January 15, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | January 13, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.We are providing updates on key regulatory and legislative issues, as well as information on legal issues that we believe could prove useful as firms and other entities navigate these challenging times.This update focuses on the Federal Reserve Board's announcement that it expects to begin purchasing mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in early January 2009.On November 25, 2008, the Federal Reserve announced three major new initiatives as follows: The Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) -- under which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with Treasury credit protection in
Client Alert | January 5, 2009
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | December 24, 2008
In connection with regulatory reform legislation anticipated to be introduced in the 111th Congress, consideration will be given to enacting proposals to further legislate the swaps market and, in particular, credit default swaps ("CDS") and the over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives market.
Client Alert | December 23, 2008
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | December 16, 2008
On November 5, 2008, the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") issued guidance, Opening Securities and Futures Accounts from an OFAC Perspective, to make it clear that guidance or actions by its sister Treasury bureau, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN"), under the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") do not affect the responsibilities of the securities and futures industry to comply with the economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC. This OFAC issuance follows the announcement by FinCEN on October 30, 2008, that FinCEN was withdrawing proposed rulemakings issued in 2002 and 2003 which would have required anti-money laundering ("AML") programs for unregistered investment companies, invest
Client Alert | December 9, 2008
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.
Client Alert | November 25, 2008
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.We are providing updates on key regulatory and legislative issues, as well as information on legal issues that we believe could prove useful as firms and other entities navigate these challenging times.This update focuses on the final rule issued today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") governing its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (the "TLGP").On October 13, 2008, the FDIC adopted the TLGP, which guarantees newly issued senior unsecured debt of banks, thrifts, and most holding companies of federally insured depository institutions (the &quo
Client Alert | November 21, 2008
The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Financial Markets Crisis Group is tracking closely government responses to the turmoil that has catalyzed dramatic and rapid reshaping of our capital and credit markets.We are providing updates on key regulatory and legislative issues, as well as information on legal issues that we believe could prove useful as firms and other entities navigate these challenging times.This update focuses on a series of hearings which are being conducted by Congressman Henry Waxman, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and, in particular, the recent hearing on hedge funds' role in the financial crisis.BackgroundOn Thursday, October 2, 2008, Representative Waxman announced that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform would hold a seri
Client Alert | November 19, 2008