May 2024 was another busy month for ESG regulation both in the UK, EU and internationally. In the UK, the anti-greenwashing rule came into effect on 31 May 2024, an update on the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR)...more
The European Commission published a proposal for a regulation on combating late payment in commercial transactions last year which will introduce new rules, including that payments have to be made within 30 days, albeit with...more
April 2024 has been another busy month for ESG regulation both in the UK, EU and internationally. Key developments include the long-awaited Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finalised guidance on the UK anti-greenwashing...more
The UK’s financial regulators have responded to the government’s White Paper on its approach to regulating the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI). Publications from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA),...more
On 23 April 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published the much-anticipated anti-greenwashing guidance which will apply to all FCA regulated firms from 31 May 2024. The anti-greenwashing rule is designed to...more
On 3 April 2024, the Bank of England (BoE) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a consultation paper setting out the proposed approach to operating the Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). The DSS is designed to...more
Our latest ESG regulatory round-up highlights the key UK, EU and international financial services regulatory developments during Q1 2024. Key ESG developments this quarter include the publication of the FCA’s Business Plan...more
The FCA finalised social media guidance in relation to financial promotions published on 26 March 2024 acknowledges that social media has become a central part of firms’ marketing strategies allowing them to reach a large...more
On 19 March 2024, the FCA published its Business Plan for 2024/25 setting out its planned programme of work for the coming year. The FCA states that it remains resolute in supporting the vital role the financial sector plays...more
On March 11 2024, Eurogroup issued a statement outlining common priorities for the future development of the European capital markets union (CMU), which will be presented to EU Leaders at the Euro Summit in Brussels on March...more
On 14 March 2023, a Call for Evidence in relation to the Transition Finance Market Review (TFMR) was published. Responses are due by 25 April 2024 from a wide range of stakeholders, including financial institutions. The...more
The FCA published a statement on 11 March 2024 setting out that it will not object to requests from Recognised Investment Exchanges (RIEs) to list cryptoasset-backed Exchange Traded Notes (cETNs). The products would be...more
The European Central Bank (ECB) published its latest Supervision Newsletter on 21 February 2024 which highlighted, amongst other updates, that the number of outsourcing contracts for ECB supervised banks has increased...more
On 8 December 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Treasury (HMT) published a joint discussion paper to examine the regulatory boundary between financial advice and guidance. The Advice Guidance Boundary Review...more
As we enter 2024, we have looked back to Q4 2023 to reflect on the range of momentous ESG regulatory developments and to look at how they will impact ESG regulatory developments throughout this year. Key developments at the...more
On 29 January 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published two Consultation Papers seeking comments on draft guidelines under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation—one on the “reverse solicitation...more
On 8 January 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Digital Securities Sandbox) Regulations 2023 entered into force, creating the Digital Securities Sandbox within which certain Financial Market Infrastructures...more
On 8 January 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Digital Securities Sandbox) Regulations 2023 enter into force, creating the Digital Securities Sandbox within which certain Financial Market Infrastructures will...more
The eagerly awaited seventh edition of the Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Grid was published on 30 November 2023 by the Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum. The Regulatory Initiatives Grid sets out the...more
On 28 November 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed the long-awaited final rules and guidance for UK asset managers aimed at improving the trust and transparency around sustainable investment products. In a...more
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, presented HM Treasury’s Autumn Statement for growth on 22 November 2023. We summarise below the key proposals relating to financial services regulation....more
The new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) financial promotion gateway comes into effect on 7 February 2024. Further to amendments made by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, authorised firms that wish to continue...more
On 2 November 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority published its Finalised non-handbook guidance on Cryptoasset Financial Promotions (FG23/3) (the “Guidance”). While the Guidance does not create new regulatory obligations...more
On 26 October 2023, the Bank of England (BoE) (including the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)), and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (collectively ‘the regulators’) published a feedback statement summarising the...more
September has got off to a very busy start for ESG regulatory developments following the summer break. We have seen the launch of the final recommendations from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD),...more