High Court considers enforcement of security by way of appropriation under the Financial Collateral Arrangements (No 2) Regulations 2003 (FCARs)

The High Court has dismissed a claim made by a borrower that a lender’s appropriation of certain shares secured by a charge, upon default in a loan arrangement, was invalid and that the valuation of the appropriated shares was commercially unreasonable: ABT Auto Investments Ltd v Aapico Investment PTE Ltd & Ors [2022] EWHC 2839 … Read more

Contractual duties of good faith: Court of Appeal confirms context is king

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in a case which provides important clarification around the scope and construction of contractual provisions obliging the parties to act in good faith: Re Compound Photonics Group Ltd; Faulkner v Vollin Holdings Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1371. Although set in a non-financial context, the decision will be of … Read more

High Court confirms interest rate swaps entered into with Italian municipal authority were valid, lawful and binding on the parties

The High Court has allowed a summary judgment application by an Italian bank seeking declarations to the effect that certain interest rate swaps entered into with an Italian municipal authority were valid, lawful and binding on the parties: Dexia Crediop SPA v Provincia Di Pesaro E Urbino [2022] EWHC 2410 (Comm). This is an interesting … Read more

High Court finds no continuing event of default under ISDA Master Agreements once administration of counterparty terminates

The High Court has allowed an application for directions made by the administrators of an investment bank concerning the construction and effect of various standard form events of default provisions which were included in the 1992 and 2002 versions of the ISDA Master Agreements (multi-currency cross border versions) in relation to certain swaps entered into … Read more

Court of Appeal finds party was required to accept non-contractual performance in exercising reasonable endeavours to “overcome” force majeure event

The Court of Appeal has held, by a majority, that a shipowner was not entitled to rely on a force majeure clause in a shipping contract where its charterer’s parent company became subject to US sanctions: MUR Shipping BV v RTI Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1406. Although set in a non-financial context, the decision will be of … Read more

Interpreting ICC standardised rules in trade finance disputes: courts take an international perspective

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP have published an article in Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law on interpreting International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) standardised rules in trade finance disputes. Banking practice in areas of trade finance such as demand guarantees and letters of credit is standardised by a collection of contractual rules published by the ICC. … Read more