Companies had raised serious concerns about the additional red tape that the proposed reporting obligations would require.
On 16 October 2023, the UK government withdrew the draft Companies (Strategic Report and...more
Companies Invited to Voluntarily Adopt New Nature-related Financial Disclosure Framework -
On 18 September 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published its final recommendations for...more
10/3/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
IFRS ,
Listing Standards ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Risk Management ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK ,
Voluntary Disclosure
On 10 August 2023, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 45, which describes its process for developing its policy position in relation to the new ISSB standards and developing climate-related transition plan guidance for...more
9/5/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Code of Conduct ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Ratings ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
New Legislative Measures to Strengthen UK Corporate Reporting -
On 19 July 2023, the draft Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) Regulations were laid in Parliament....more
8/2/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Digital Securities ,
Draft Guidance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Information Reports ,
MiFID II ,
MTFs ,
New Regulations ,
Performance Reviews ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Research Tools ,
Trading Platforms ,
UK
The FCA reveals its initial thinking on the regulatory framework for primary multilateral trading facilities and public offer platforms.
On 13 July 2023, the FCA published its fifth and sixth engagement papers to solicit...more
This edition covers new global sustainability reporting standards, proposals to reform corporate criminal liability laws, the enactment of FSMA 2023, FRC guidance on dividend reporting, Investment Association guidance on...more
7/10/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Liability ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSMA ,
IFRS ,
Market Abuse ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
Transparency ,
UK
This edition covers proposed major reforms to the listing and prospectus regimes, corporate governance reforms largely relating to audit and internal controls, and proposed changes to the Takeover Code affecting the...more
6/5/2023
/ Audits ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Listing Rules ,
Listing Standards ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Prospectus ,
Public Consultations ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
UK
Proposals dramatically reduce the regulatory burden on listed companies.
On 3 May 2023, the FCA published a consultation paper CP23/10 which sets out a blueprint for changes to the UK listing regime. The key reform...more
This edition covers the FCA’s priorities for the next 12 months, the ICGN statement on post-pandemic AGM practices, Takeover Code changes affecting competitive bids, and a proposed new corporate “failure to prevent fraud”...more
5/2/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Internal Controls ,
Market Abuse ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Takeover Code ,
Takeovers ,
UK
This edition covers upcoming reforms to the UK listing regime, the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 44, the launch of a review into the UK investment research landscape, the PLSA’s 2023 Stewardship and Voting Guidelines, and...more
4/3/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
HM Treasury ,
Listing Standards ,
MiFID ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Research Reports ,
Shareholders ,
UK
This edition covers the new Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines and Shareholder Priorities for 2023, FRC publications on ESG and corporate governance, and the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 43....more
This first edition of 2023 covers recent guidance from the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 42 and Market Watch 71, major changes to the Takeover Code’s “acting in concert” presumptions, an FCA penalty for publishing misleading...more
UK listed companies face regulatory changes and developing market practices in the areas of ESG reporting, executive remuneration, share issuance authorities, meeting formats, and structured digital reporting.
Key Points:...more
1/10/2023
/ Annual Meeting ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholder Meetings ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The updated Statement of Principles will have an immediate impact on UK listed companies, providing increased flexibility to undertake larger non-pre-emptive capital raisings.
On 4 November 2022, the Pre-Emption Group...more
The new rules provide issuers with flexibility to report on representation of women by reference to either gender identity or sex.
On 20 April 2022, the FCA published its final policy decision on the proposals set out in...more
The changes indicate a more dynamic and flexible UK prospectus regime with the FCA to play a central role through enhanced rule-making powers.
On 1 March 2022, the UK government (through HM Treasury (HMT)) announced the...more
Broad reform to listing regimes, growing ESG scrutiny, and increasing retail participation in fundraisings are among the areas to watch.
Last year was memorable for UK equity capital markets (ECM). The IPO market was at...more
1/21/2022
/ Annual Meeting ,
Capital Markets ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Listing Rules ,
Listing Standards ,
Private Equity ,
Retail Investors ,
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) ,
UK
Proposals reflect growing investor focus on the ESG performance of listed companies.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation setting out proposed changes to its Listing Rules (LRs) and...more
ESMA warns against investor protection risks and provides guidance on expected disclosures.
On 15 July 2021, ESMA published a statement on the prospectus disclosure and investor protection issues raised by special...more
7/19/2021
/ Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU Prospectus Regime ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
MiFID II ,
Prospectus ,
Prospectus Regulation (PR3) ,
Retail Investors ,
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) ,
UK
The FCA is consulting on extending its rules to standard listed issuers.
On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/18) on extending the application of the existing climate-related disclosure...more
6/28/2021
/ Asset Management ,
Capital Markets ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Issuers ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting ,
G7 ,
IFRS ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
Proposed changes to the UK Listing Rules would allow certain SPACs to avoid a listing suspension.
Key Points:
..The FCA is proposing to amend its rules so that SPACs meeting certain conditions and disclosure...more
The recommended reforms aim to make the UK’s listing regime more competitive while maintaining high standards of corporate governance, shareholder rights, and transparency. A new independent review (the Review), led by Lord...more
ESMA advises the European Commission to consider some, but not all, of ESMA’s original proposals — and gives guidance on pre-hedging and market soundings along the way.
Key Points:
..Pre-hedging / front running: ESMA...more
BEIS and FRC released further updates on how companies can hold meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 14 May 2020, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Financial Reporting Council...more
The package combines temporary policy interventions and existing options to help companies raise new share capital during the COVID-19 crisis.
On 8 April 2020, the FCA published a Statement of Policy and related technical...more