On 28 November 2018, the European Commission published its third progress report on the reduction of non-performing loans (NPL) and further risk reduction in the Banking Union (the Report). The Report notes that NPL ratios continued to decline in the first half of 2018. This followed the overall trend of improvement over recent years. The latest figures show that the gross NPL ratio for all EU banks further declined to 3.4% in Q2 2018. At…

On 22 November 2018, the European Investment Bank (EIB) published the fourth edition of its banking in Africa report. This latest report, Banking in Africa: Delivering on Financial Inclusion, Supporting Financial Stability, includes the results of the EIB’s survey of banking groups operating in Africa. It also contains three thematic chapters which address the challenges and opportunities for financing investment in Africa: Crowdfunding out of private sector lending by public debt issuance; Policy options…

This summer the media reported that the European market for non-performing loans (NPLs) was becoming more active, with Italy and Spain accounting for most of the deals. According to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) semi-annual financial stability review, the total gross book value of NPL portfolios traded in the Eurozone reached €66 billion in Q4 2017, its highest since the data series began in 2015. The bulk of this figure came from Italy and Spain…

Norton Rose Fulbright has launched a comparative guide on the state of recovery and resolution laws for banks in Africa. The new interactive guide provides an overview of the bank recovery and resolution requirements applicable to over 20 jurisdictions across Africa. The online guide allows clients to build their own comparative reports regarding the key elements of recovery and resolution as described by the Financial Stability Board’s Key Attributes for Effective Resolution Regimes for Financial…

The latest Banking Reform updater features an analysis of EU v US intermediate financial holding company regimes. The update introduces the EU IHC proposals and compares the EU and US regimes: Why are the EU IHC rules being proposed? Overview – effects of the EU IHC regime and comparison with the US regime Analysis – EU IHC regime Analysis – comparison with the US regime.…

The latest Banking Reform updater has been published, covering the European Commission’s proposals for an EU intermediate holding company regime (EU IHC). The Banking Reform updater introduces the EU IHC proposals and compares the EU and US regimes: Why are the EU IHC rules being proposed? Overview – effects of the EU IHC regime and comparison with the US regime Analysis – EU IHC regime Analysis – comparison with the US regime. View EU v …

Attitudes of national regulatory authorities to the presence of an international bank through a branch operation differs across jurisdictions. Some authorities have adopted an open approach particularly where the bank’s home country regulatory regime is broadly equivalent to its own. The bank’s business model may also play an important role as well as resolvability requirements. To help keep banks up-to-date with current developments, we have produced a global comparative analysis concerning the regulation and the…