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Asia needs a more joined-up approach to bank resolution Although bank resolution has remained a key topic in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, solutions in Asia seem to be focused on local rather than international concerns. Panellists at a recent Latham & Watkins restructuring seminar in Hong Kong agreed that although Asia was less impacted by the 2008 global financial crisis than other areas, the default of Lehman Brothers' structured notes affected retail investors in Hong Kong and Singapore.

How loan-portfolio acquirers in Germany can avoid post-acquisition troubles

An overview of financial risk management developments in post-crisis China

Tomasz Konopka Borys D Sawicki Part 1 on this topic covered the penalisation of corruption in the Polish legal system in the historical context, and presented key regulations applicable to corruption at the public level. In this issue, we will focus on regulations pertaining to corruption at the private level. The general aim of the latter regulations is to protect proper and fair economic circulation, in which fair rules of economic exchange are applied and observed and where commercial decisions are made taking into account the economic interests of the relevant party. In turn, the individual aim is different for each regulation. In the case of provisions penalising the so-called corruption of managers, the aim is to protect the entity against decisions or actions, which may bring about damage to that entity. Provisions penalising corruption of creditors, highlighted further herein, aim at protecting creditors and maintain fairness and timeliness when processing claims.

On November 12 2013, the Chief Executive of Macau, Chui Sai On, delivered his last policy address of his first term of office.

Alexei Bonamin Marcus Vinicius Fonseca Exchange traded funds (ETFs) were established in Brazil through instruction number 359 of January 22 2002, enacted by the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM), but until recently it was only possible to form an ETF backed by variable-income indices. Now, through the enactment of instruction number 537 of September 16 2013, which amended instruction number 359, the CVM has finally authorised the formation of ETFs backed by fixed-income indices. Instruction 537 also provides criteria that should be observed by the CVM when approving indices that may be used as reference by an ETF, which always existed but were not yet detailed. For example, indices should not have parties related to the administrator or manager of the ETF as provider, and must have a widely disclosed calculation methodology that includes predetermined and objective rules.

IFLR gives lawyers at Europe’s top investment banks and financial advisory firms a platform for candid debate on the issues that matter most to them

Does the transatlantic OTC derivatives debate need a new direction?

The announcement of JP Morgan Chase's $13 billion settlement with the US Department of Justice has caused many to question what it means for the wider market.

Christos Christou The sovereign debt crisis in Greece has resulted in an unprecedented plunge of the GDP by 25%, whereas prices in the local real-estate market have fallen as much as 50% since the crisis hit the country at the end of 2008. As a result, huge investment opportunities have arisen, as both the Greek state and the private sector are trying to liquidate as many assets as possible in order to repay their debts. Still, until recently, foreign investors were reluctant to enter an ill-performing economy, despite the impressive adjustment fiscal programme implemented by the Greek Government and the sweeping structural reforms adopted during the last years, which resulted in a public finance surplus for the first time since Greece joined the eurozone in 2002. One of the main reasons for this was the unfavourable taxation status for real estate investments. Two very interesting recent deals, however, show that the country is again open for business. Canadian Fairfax Financial Holdings invested €200 million ($272 million) within the last year in EFG Eurobank Properties, raising their share from 5.7% to 42%. Prem Watsa, Fairfax's CEO, called the deal "a vote of confidence to the prospects of the Greek economy". A few weeks ago, Dutch private equity Invel Real Estate and BGS Real Estate of the Israeli diamond mogul Beny Steinmetz announced a joint purchase of 66% of Pangea real estate investment company (REIC), Ethniki Bank's real estate unit for €653 million, "betting on a recovery in the country's economy". Both deals have one thing in common: they both relate to an investment in a Greek REIC and this should be no surprise.