This is a practical handbook of key issues relating to investing in derivatives, both from the point of view of customers who purchase and use derivative products, and from the point of view of banks and other dealers.
Among the topics discussed by leading regulators and practitioners in major markets--the United States, the United Kingdom and France--are:
risks from using and not using derivatives
the disclosures that dealers should make to customers
whether derivatives are securities
what disclosures should be made by users to their shareholders
suits by users against dealers
what directors of users should know about derivatives
This handbook provides an excellent practical introduction to derivatives for company and securities lawyers, bankers and bank lawyers and corporate finance officers.
- The Topic and the Panelists
- What is a Derivative?
- The Volume of Derivative Trading
- `Normal' Use of Derivatives
- Exotic Derivative Products
- Risks from not Using Derivatives
- Disclosures by Dealers to Customers
- What if the Customer is not authorized to deal in Derivatives?
- Are Derivatives Securities?
- Disclosures by End-Users
- Suits by End-Users against Dealers
- Potential Liability of Directors of the End-User
- Differences among Regulators: Is there a Race to the Bottom?
- Questions from the Floor: a. OTC vs. Exchange-Regulated Products. b. Derivatives on a Single Security. c. Overlapping Jurisdiction of Regulators in the US
- Morals. Appendices