Search results for

The past few years have seen considerable debate between Offshore Financial Centres and a number of overseas authorities and governments, including the UK government (highlighted by the KPMG report), the OECD and its Financial Action Task Force regarding bearer shares. Most British Virgin Island International Business Companies (IBCs) have included in their memoranda of association the power to issue bearer shares. The reality seems to be that only a minority of IBCs actually issue bearer shares. However, the possibility that a large number of the Islands' IBCs may have actually issued bearer shares has placed the British Virgin Islands, in particular, under intense international scrutiny.

As the EU published a revolutionary proposal to create a single market for investment firms on November 18, the European Commission came under attack from industry lobbyists and lawyers. Michael Evans reports on the last-minute changes to the plans thrashed out behind closed doors

Regulators in emerging markets still lack the resources and expertise to enforce best corporate governance practices. Private dispute resolution may provide the solution for minority shareholders. By Andrew Crooke

Keeping Sarbanes-Oxley in perspective reveals that the new requirements should not discourage smaller non-US companies from listing in New York. Robert DeLaMater, Michael DeSombre and Melissa You of Sullivan & Cromwell argue that some Asian stock exchanges impose restrictions that create more practical burdens than those threatened by the new US legislation

No two leading firms in France can agree whether obstructive local usury laws apply to deals done overseas. Eric Cafritz and Omer Tene of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson explain why legislation must be updated

Securitization lawyers in Paris are angry about court judgments that are holding back their industry. Rob Mannix finds out why the French government must legislate if it is serious about promoting structured finance

Herbert Smith advises insurer on rights issue and restructuring

Backers of Russian companies are looking forward to increased protection for their investments after comprehensive reform of the country's bankruptcy procedure was confirmed at the end of October.

The UK government has conceded that secondary legislation is needed to ensure the Enterprise Act does not restrict innovative securitizations.

The latest announcements from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision have left securitization banks cold. Rob Mannix reports