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
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
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
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
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
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 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
On 25 September 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published long-awaited proposals to introduce a regulatory framework for diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the financial...more
On 14 September 2023, the European Commission launched a targeted consultation and a public consultation seeking feedback on Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector...more
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 which received Royal Assent on 29 June 2023 contains new provisions to establish a regulatory gateway for the approval of unauthorised persons’ financial promotions. This presents...more
Hailed as a landmark piece of legislation and a once in a generation reform to the UK financial services sector, the new Financial Services and Markets Act 2022-2023 which received Royal Assent on 29 June 2023 aims to bolster...more
On 22 May 2023, the FCA published a consultation paper (CP23/12) on the second phase of expanding the Dormant Assets Scheme. The Dormant Assets Scheme was initially set up to allow banks and building societies to pay dormant...more
The FCA has published its anticipated Policy Statement (PS23/6) ‘Financial promotion rules for cryptoassets’ which brings cryptoasset promotions made to UK consumers within the regulator’s remit. The new rules, which come...more
On 12 April 2023, the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA, together the ESAs) published a joint consultation paper in response to their joint mandate to review and revise the RTS supplementing SFDR....more
With the economic and geopolitical environment likely to remain ‘highly uncertain’, the FCA’s latest Business Plan reflects its decision to accelerate work in four areas over the next year: putting consumers’ needs first;...more
On 30 March 2023, the FCA and PRA published a joint discussion paper which seeks views on the operational aspects of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime. Alongside this, HM Treasury also published a Call for Evidence...more
The government's updated net-zero Green Finance Strategy was published on 30 March 2023. We set out below the key elements of the updated Strategy which focuses on the need for green investment and on opportunities for the...more
3/31/2023
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Wealth Management
Following on from HM Treasury’s consultation and call for evidence on the regulation of cryptoassets and an updated policy approach in relation to financial promotions, a draft version of the Financial Services and Markets...more
The Central Bank of Ireland (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022 has now been finalised in the Houses of the Oireachtas and referred to the President for signing into law later this month. The Bill is intended to...more
ESG developments have continued at a steady pace throughout February with ESG remaining squarely on the financial services regulatory agenda in the UK, EU and internationally. In this edition, we share the latest regulatory...more