Recent updates to PRA and TLAC standards.

2016 Stress test scenarios were published on February 24th. Severity of scenario is in line with the one used in the 2014 test. While it contemplates larger emerging market shocks, we expect manageable capital impacts arising from 2016 stress tests.

Peter Briggs, Alvarez & Marsal Managing Director and Global head of A&M’s Financial Industry Advisory Services takes on disruption in banking in the U.S. and in emerging markets.

The proposed regulations were issued in part to curb excessive indebtedness in cross-border transactions between related parties; however, they have far broader implications than intercompany indebtedness between domestic and foreign related parties.

The press is full of stories about the impact of e-commerce on the HighStreet but there is much less said about what it means for business-tobusiness (B2B) companies, where often the level of change can be just as profound.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently released Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, which finalizes significant changes aimed at simplifying the accounting for share-based payments. The final rules are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies and after December 15, 2017 for all other entities. Early adoption is permitted, but if a company chooses to early adopt, it must do so for all amendments in ASU 2016-09.

Spin-offs of the proposed merger of Dow and DuPont and other mega mergers will create buying opportunities for PE firms that invest in coatings, adhesives and sealants.

The United States enacted the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act to uncover U.S. persons who were hiding money in offshore financial institutions and similar investment vehicles.