Global competition, technological development, and changes in banking laws and regulations are transforming the role of commercial banks and the nature of the banking business within the U.S. financial system. The earlier editions of this work have been revised and expanded to incorporate discussions of these dramatic changes and their results. The discussions of the issues have been kept as current as possible, and a solid background has been supplied to provide perspective. Emphasis has been placed on the management of commercial banks through the formulation and implementation of sound and flexible policies.

The question of what constitutes 'fraud in the transaction' with respect to international letters of credit varies considerably among jurisdictions. In proving allegations of fraud, it is crucial for the practitioner to know the relevant jurisdiction's case law, especially if wider defences such as inducement, unconscionable conduct or bad faith must be invoked. In this book, the author argues that, whereas 'fraud in the documents' is generally sufficient in cases involving commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit demand a wider fraud exception. The central issue - how wide that fraud exception should be - is what this book explores in depth.This author compares and critically examines the application of the fraud exception in four major trade jurisdictions - the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. With an overall focus on how each jurisdiction's fraud tests treat the autonomy of standby letters of credit, she builds her arguments on such relevant sources and concepts as the following: when it can be shown that the beneficiary has 'no bona fide belief' in the validity of its claim demand guarantees; international initiatives (ICC Rules and the UN Convention on Independent Guarantee and Standby Letters of Credit); the Sztejn Rule; parameters of the 'fraud in the transaction' defence 'materiality' standard; prerequisites for injunctive relief; arguing 'fraud in the formation of the contract'; performance bond cases; applying the 'breach of good faith' defence; 'negative stipulation' in the underlying contract; and equitable versus statutory/broader notion of unconscionability. The presentation includes detailed summaries and analyses of leading cases in all four jurisdictions.

This publication represents a collection of scholarly and highly practical chapters prepared by leading experts on banking law. Important changes are taking place in the financial sectors in the Pacific Rim; vital roles are being played by Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. This volume deals with the broad policy issues entailed in the liberalization and deregulation of the banking industry and is divided into two parts. Part 1 covers liberalization and the search for an appropriate banking law model; and Part 2 deals with convergence of supervisory standards of international banking. This collection, which was designed as a broad foundation for comparative analysis of changes and reforms occurring worldwide in international banking regulation and practice, should be a useful aid to domestic and international government officials, executives of banking and other financial institutions, professionals (attorneys, accountants and other advisers) representing such institutions and academics, in trying to understand both policies and practicalities reflected by these rapid changes and reforms. A separate, but related, companion volume on international banking operations and practices has also been produced, entitled "International Banking Operations and Practices: Current Developments", which deals with the relevant legal questions regarding the changing international financial practices.

The book addresses a topic at the intersection of two heavily regulated sectors: insurance and investment services. Until recently, scholars and professionals have approached insurance and investment services as two separate categories in the financial services sector, and as being governed by separate regulatory frameworks. In practice, however, the boundaries were and are blurred, a reality that regulators have begun to recognize and address in their more recent regulatory texts. The first part of the book approaches the new standards applicable to investment products based on insurance: insurance-based investment products (IBIPs). These rules are harmonized across the EU. The rationale behind this new definition is provided, together with a description of these products' limitations. The analysis addresses the new rules and explores the legal regime and relevant standards applicable to IBIPs. The organizational rules concerning the design and distribution of IBIPs are also examined, and the book highlights e.g. how these rules are inspired by the principles of conduct. In closing, the ADR systems are analysed, in order to ascertain whether or not they can offer an effective tool for settling disputes over these products. In turn, the second part focuses on the liability for distribution of IBIPs, which ranks as one of the most conspicuous and relatively new legal phenomena, but at the same time, represents an exceptionally important field of civil liability in today's world. Liability is still regulated at the national level. Thus, the four largest life insurance markets in the EU are considered, along with the largest emerging market for life insurance. The chapters on national laws also consider whether, and if so, how the new harmonized rules on IBIPs are being combined with those already in force in the jurisdictions considered. The goal is to determine whether the new rules are likely to change the doctrine and case law approach to these products, or whether the European legislators' choices have no real impact on the protection of clients.

The publication of Frederick Abbott's new book could not be more timely. The impact of the NAFTA on the North American marketplace has clearly manifested itself over the past year and the emergence of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the regulator of global commerce will have a profound influence on the conduct of international trade. This book provides a comprehensive approach to the study of the NAFTA and its implications for the global trading system. It covers the political and legal process of NAFTA approval as well as the NAFTA's potential economic impact. Detailed analysis is given to the NAFTA rule systems, dispute settlement mechanisms, and environmental implications. Perhaps most importantly, this book situates the NAFTA into the broader global multilateral trading system now to be embodied in the WTO. It examines the legal rules of the WTO designed to regulate the activities of regional integration arrangements. It considers the potential for conflict between the rules and trade policies of the WTO and those of the NAFTA. This book holds a strong appeal for practitioners and academics interested in international economic law. This book is the first volume in the new NAFTA LAW AND POLICY series. This series will include high-quality studies of different aspects of NAFTA, including legal analysis and commentary on the Agreement. Among the numerous areas that will be covered in the series are NAFTA topics as diverse as agriculture, dispute settlement, environment, intellectual property rights, investment, and labour.

Since 1979, China has been in the midst of an on-going process of liberalization of financial services, which has been accelerated under its WTO obligations. Such liberalization increases the vulnerability of China to financial crises, with domestic and international implications. In order to reduce its vulnerability, China is seeking to develop a robust financial system by restructuring its financial regulatory and institutional structure in accordance with international standards. This process requires structural choices to be made in respect of financial services liberalization commitments and international financial standards. These choices will have a significant impact upon the development of China's financial system. The reform of China's financial system raises many challenges. At the international level, there is at present no explicit linkage between the required legal infrastructure that must be in place for the development of a robust financial system and financial liberalization under the WTO. At the domestic level, weaknesses remain, which are likely to be brought to the surface by financial liberalization resulting from WTO accession and implementation. China's challenge is to strike an appropriate balance between a robust financial system and WTO compliance. Measures taken in this connection will also be indicative of potential disputes that may arise with other WTO members, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. In December 2006, China's two protective measures of geographical limitation and client limitation will be eliminated. There will be few market access limitations for foreign investors in banking, except capital requirements. In this context, it is interesting to know how Chinese financial regulators will deal with the liberalization issue arising from the WTO, and this is the focus of this authoritative book. This examination of China's financial reform under the WTO is meaningful for other developing and developed countries, as well as for China. This book addresses the on-going process of financial restructuring and reform in post-WTO China from a legal perspective. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the impact of the WTO on China's financial markets and financial law systems. Chapter 2 discusses reform of banking law and regulation in post-WTO China. Chapter 3 addresses the role of the central bank in China's financial system, focusing on issues of independence and accountability of the People's Banking of China (PBOC), China's central bank. Chapter 4 analyses China's compliance with WTO obligations in the area of banking. Chapter 5 discusses the role of asset management companies (AMCs) in China's on-going banking restructuring and liberalization. Chapter 6 analyses the development of securities markets in China, the challenges being faced and the impact of the WTO. Chapter 7 describes insurance and its development in China, focusing on the role of the WTO in liberalization. A new topic in China, i.e., financial conglomerates, is discussed in chapter 8, building upon the discussions in the previous chapters. Chapter 9 in turn studies the issue of financial institution insolvency and restructuring - as noted in previous chapters, key issues in China. Chapter 10 discusses the double impact of the WTO and one of China's regional trade agreements, CEPA, on China's banking law.

The global crises of the early 21st century have tested the international financial architecture. In seeking to ensure stability, governments have regulated financial and capital markets. This in turn has implicated international investment law, which investors have invoked as a shield against debt restructuring, bail-ins or bail-outs. This book explores whether investment law should protect against such regulatory measures, including where these have the support of multilateral institutions. It considers where the line should be drawn between legitimate regulation and undue interference with investor rights and, equally importantly, who draws it. Across the diverse chapters herein, expert international scholars assess the key challenges facing decision makers, analyze arbitral and treaty practice and evaluate ways towards a balanced system of investment protection in the financial sector. In doing so, they offer a detailed analysis of the interaction between investment protection and financial regulation in fields such as sovereign debt restructuring and bank rescue measures. Combining high-level analysis with a detailed assessment of controversial legal issues, this book will provide guidance for both academics and legal practitioners working in international economic law, international arbitration, investment law, international banking and financial law. Contributors include: A. Asteriti, P. Athanassiou, C.N. Brower, A. De Luca, A. Goetz-Charlier, A. Gourgourinis, R. Hofmann, H. Kupelyants, Y. Li, M. Mendelson, M.W. Muller, M

The Netherlands is one of a handful of countries in which bank enterprise and national financial law give rise to a large number of international financial transactions. It is important then for practitioners in other countries to gain more than a notional understanding of the specific features of Dutch financial law, as well as a clear working knowledge of how Dutch financial law interacts with supranational regulatory and policy regimes affecting financial transactions. Toward this end, this very useful book provides a practical but nevertheless thorough survey of Dutch financial law, with lucid explanations of such topics as the following: A- specific rules applicable to investment institutions; A- specific rules applicable to debt instruments; A- offering securities in both primary and secondary markets; A- set-off and calculation of obligations of market participants (netting); A- structures for custody and book-entry transfer of securities; A- obtaining and terminating listings; A { mandatory bids, competing bids, friendly and unfriendly bids under public offering regulations; A- meaning, jargon and function of derivatives, forwards, futures, options, swaps, etc.; A- securities repurchase and lending transactions; A- covered bond regulations; A- caretaking duties in private and public law; A- structure of legal proceedings of a prospectus liability claim; A- unfair commercial practices rules; A- case law in insider trading and market manipulation; and A- securities litigation in Dutch private, criminal, and administrative law. Written in clear, easy-to-follow English, this book makes Dutch financial law accessible to lawyers, business persons, and others whose work entails financial transactions in the Netherlands. It also serves as an admirable text for students and academics in the field of financial law.

This text provides a comprehensive survey of the law and practice of securitization in the major jurisdictions in which securitizations have been carried out. It reviews the principal assets commonly securitized and the development of the market in each country. Legal aspects of the most important structures are analyzed in detail, involving therefore the establishment of special purpose vehicles, credit enhancement techniques and security issues. The book is also a commentary on specialized issues such as public offerings of asset-backed securities and cross-border considerations. In summary, securitization can be defined broadly as the process of financing assets through the issuance of securities which are "backed" (i.e. secured) by the cash payment streams generated by the assets securitized and by the assets themselves. There are 16 national reports. The book forms a discussion of both market and legal issues. It also allows a quick comparison of different jurisdictions.

Students in various disciplines-from law and government to business and health policy-need to understand several quantitative aspects of finance (such as the capital asset pricing model or financial options) and policy analysis (e.g., assessing the weight of probabilistic evidence) but often have little quantitative background. This book illustrates those phenomena and explains how to illustrate them using the powerful visuals that computing can produce. Of particular interest to graduate students and scholars in need of sharper quantitative methods, this book introduces the reader to Mathematica, enables readers to use Mathematica to produce their own illustrations, and places specific emphasis on finance and policy as well as the foundations of probability theory.

This book provides an insight into commercial relations between large economies and Small States, the benefits of regional integration, the role of Small States as financial centres as well as B2B and State to State dispute resolution involving Small States. Several contributions allow the reader to familiarise themselves with the general subject matter; others scrutinise the particular issues Small States face when confronted with an international dispute and discuss new and innovative solutions. These solutions range from inventive ideas to help economic growth to appropriate mechanisms of dispute resolution including inter-State dispute resolution and specific areas of arbitration such as tax arbitration. Researchers, policy advisors and practitioners will find a wealth of insights, information and practical ideas in this book.

This book provides clear guidance on what constitutes State Aid in the area of tax law. It clearly explains the situations in which beneficial tax provisions for the taxpayer - e.g., lower tax rates for certain industries or for certain economic zones, advantageous depreciation rules, or exemptions - can be declared void by the European Commission. The difficult controlling concept of 'selectivity' of an aid is dealt with extensively. Drawing on familiarity with the practice of the Commission, as well as the jurisprudence of the General Court and of the Court of Justice, thirteen knowledgeable contributors present valuable arguments in case the Commission requires the repayment of advantages received. Among the topics and issues covered are the following: how unregulated tax incentive competition between States leads to a 'win' by one State and a 'loss' by another; the legal uncertainty attached to the Commission's decision following notification of a proposed tax incentive; the role of the Commission's Code of Conduct; calculating the amount of recovery of illegal State Aid; application of State Aid rules in the area of indirect taxation (e.g., VAT and excise duties); investment fund regimes; subnational regional aid; 'patent box' regimes; foreign source income; and taxpayers' exclusion from infringement proceedings and subsequent appeals.

Multinational corporations face different tax systems in different countries that require careful tax planning. A systematic approach is needed to minimize and avoid unnecessary business taxes. Some core issues of international taxation are part of a successful corporate tax plan in an international context. The first issue is a good understanding and appreciation of the principles of international taxation that include the different philosophies of taxation, the different kinds of taxes, the different tax systems, the different tax treaties and potential tax havens. The second issue is a thorough understanding of U.S. taxation of foreign income to avoid double taxation and the computation of foreign tax credits. The third issue is the choice of a transfer pricing method and the compliance with tax regulations on both the transfer of tangible and intangible assets. The fourth issue is the intelligent use of tax vehicles for exporting which can generate substantial savings and reduce the effective tax rate and involve the choice between the interest-charge domestic international sales corporation and the foreign sales corporation. A final issue is the efficient use of value-added taxation for activities taking place outside the U.S., and a new appreciation of the potential of this form of taxation for the United States. Practicing accountants, academics, business executives, students, legislators, and others who want a better understanding of the complex issues of international taxation will be interested in this book.

The essays in this work offer a high-level examination of the most important issues facing financial services regulation,and the far-reaching effects of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on the UK financial sector in the context of rapid global change. Taking an interdisciplinary approach the book includes contributions by many distinguished academic authorities on the law and economics of regulation, and also some of the most influential practitioners, regulators and policymakers. As such it provides an authoritative analysis of the underlying issues affecting the broad development of financial services regulation: the objectives of regulation, the responsibilities of the regulated community, the accountability of regulators, the regulation of electronic financial markets and the impact of stock market mergers, regional regulation within Europe, and the development of global financial regulation.

This work examines both the UK and international regulation, as well as the case law and legislation affecting a wide spectrum of modern financial techniques. Within the scope of those financial techniques are the broad range of instruments, structures and contracts deployed by global financial markets in relation to corporate customers, sovereign entities and other public sector bodies. The essays in this collection are concerned with the nature of the modernity of financial products like derivatives, and the particularly acute challenge that they pose both to the control of financial markets by private law and by established means of regulation. Much of the book focuses on derivatives as exemplars of this broader context. The authors analyze practical and theoretical issues as diverse as credit derivatives, dematerialized securities, the ISDA EMU protocol, and the OTC derivatives market, as well as the regulation of financial products, the economics of financial techniques, and the international regulatory framework. They examine issues of private law, including the legal implications of immobilization and dematerialization in collateral transactions, seller liability in credit derivatives markets and fraud. The essays examine the benefits and shortcomings of various legal mechanisms and methods of financial regulation, and suggest new approaches to the questions facing the law of international finance. The essays in this book arose out of the W.G. Hart workshop on Transnational Corporate Finance and the Challenge to the Law held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London in 1998.

This study adopts a public policy perspective in its examination of the way capital market intermediaries fund their market operations in eight of the most dynamic countries of East and Southeast Asia: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Concerns about the ability of securities firms to fund themselves came into prominence in the world's major financial markets during the 1980s. It is striking that similar concerns had not surfaced about the Asian capital markets, particularly given the weakness of their money markets. As the forces limiting demand for funds change in the future, the financial systems examined will encounter problems in responding to the new demands for liquidity.

Drawing on EU VAT implementing regulations, ECJ case law, and national case law, this ground-breaking book provides the first in-depth, coherent legal analysis of how the massively changed circumstances of the last two decades affect the EU VAT Directive, in particular the interpretation of its four specified types of establishment: place of establishment, fixed establishment, permanent address, and usual residence. Recognising that a consistent interpretation of types of establishment is of the utmost importance in ensuring avoidance of double or non-taxation, the author sheds clear light on such VAT issues as the following:; the concept of fair distribution of taxing powers in VAT; role of the neutrality principle; legal certainty in VAT; place of business for a legal entity or partnership, for a natural person, for a VAT group; beginning and ending of a fixed establishment; the 'purchase' fixed establishment; meaning of 'permanent address' and 'usual residence'; the position of the VAT entrepreneur with more than one fixed establishment across jurisdictions; whether supplies exchanged between establishments are taxable; administrative simplicity and efficiency; VAT audits and the prevention of fraud; the intervention rule and the reverse charge mechanism; right to deduct VAT for businesses with multiple establishments; and cross-border VAT grouping and fixed establishment. Thoroughly explained are exceptions that take precedence over the general rules, such as provisions regarding: immovable property; transport services; services relating to cultural, artistic, sporting, scientific, educational, entertainment, or similar activities; restaurant and catering services; electronically supplied services; transfers and assignments of intellectual property rights; advertising services; certain consulting services; banking, financial and insurance transactions; natural gas and electricity distribution; telecommunication services; and broadcasting services.

The US tax and reporting rules applicable to foreign trusts - principally embodied as Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended - are notoriously complex. Now, with this volume, anyone who has to deal with these rules can find their use and meaning clearly explained, and proceed confidently to the best outcome in any situation where they apply. This guide covers all the following topics in detail: regular nongrantor (or accumulation) trusts of both the "simple" variety and the "complex" type with its challenging "throwback" rules and interest charge on accumulation distributions; the circumstances under which certain foreign trusts, such as section 672(f) (barring the application of the normal grantor trust rules to certain foreign trusts), section 643(h) (relating to distributions by certain foreign trusts through nominees), and section 643(i) (relating to loans from foreign trusts); reporting and penalty provisions and the accompanying IRS forms; and special issues, such as those surrounding incoming immigrants and outgoing expatriates. The book provides modified versions of the principal IRS forms (3520, 3520-A, 4970, 1040NR, and 1041) that are commonly filed for foreign trusts. These modifications, which scrupulously follow all applicable IRS rules, are much easier to use than the actual forms for the purpose of foreign trusts. Numerous examples throughout the book clarify the valid procedures and alternatives available at every point, a feature particularly useful in applying provisions that still await settled regulation and case law. Compliance issues that may arise on IRS audit are also examined. Professionals and advisors in law, tax, accounting, banking, and securities; settlers and beneficiaries; and students and academics both within and outside the United States should find this an informative and useful volume.

This book showcases the practical insights of some of Europe's foremost tax advisers and lawyers on recent case law issuing from the European Court of Justice. It also provides readers with informed analysis on how the Court may rule on future controversies impacting direct taxation.This timely and useful resource will examine each of the following topics, inter alia: CFC Legislation and Abuse of Law in the Community; free movement of capital and non-member countries; consequences for direct taxation; striking a proper balance between the national fiscal interests and the community interest; a perpetual struggle; personal income taxation of non-residents and the increasing impact of the EC Treaty Freedoms; why the European Court of Justice should interpret directly applicable Community law as a right to most-favoured nation treatment and a prohibition of double taxation; fiscal cohesion, fiscal territoriality, and Preservation of the (Balanced) Allocation of Taxing Power; what is the difference? limitation of the Temporal Effects of Judgments of the ECJ; Tax Facilities for State-induced Costs under the State Aid Rules; and EU Law and rules of tax procedure.

This work contains the full text of the papers given at the first Tax Law History Conference in Cambridge in September 2002 and organised by the Cambridge Law Facultys Centre for Tax Law. The papers ranged widely from the time of King John to the 20th century,from Tudor Englands Statute of Wills to the American taxes on slaves, from Hong Kong, Australia and Israel. The sources ranged from the Public Record office to the bowels of Somerset House. The topics ranged from the tax base through tax administration to tax policy making as well as providing detailed accounts of the UKs remittance basis of taxation and the Excess Profits Duty of the First World War. All students of tax law and tax history will want to read these papers by an international team of leading scholars in tax law and history.