Regulator clarifies that existing FCA rules will continue to apply but will also reflect the evolving landscape of financial promotions on social media.
On 17 July 2023, the FCA published a guidance consultation (GC23/2)...more
7/21/2023
/ Affiliates ,
Comment Period ,
Consultation ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Promotions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Guidance Update ,
High Risk Financial Products ,
Influencers ,
Marketing ,
Retail Investors ,
Social Media ,
UK
With the implementation deadline looming, the FCA has set out some additional guidance for firms.
With one month to go until the Consumer Duty (Duty) implementation deadline of 31 July 2023 (for new and existing products...more
What Is the Consumer Duty?
To recap, a core priority for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is improving outcomes for consumers. The FCA has stated that it is concerned that, due to the way financial services markets...more
The Future Regulatory Framework and Consumer Duty will be key areas of focus for the coming year.
On 5 April 2023, the FCA published its Business Plan for 2023/24. The Business Plan sets out a number of priority areas...more
The letters ask senior management to prioritise implementing the Duty.
On 3 February 2023, the FCA published Dear CEO/Director letters underscoring the immediate (i.e., during the implementation period up until 31 July...more
2/7/2023
/ Consumer Credit Protection ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Dear CEO Letter ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insurance Industry ,
Investment Adviser ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Senior Managers ,
UK
The FCA has reviewed firms’ progress to embed the Duty into their businesses, providing good and poor practice examples for firms to improve and direct their implementation work.
The Consumer Duty (Duty) rules (as set...more
The FCA’s latest report into D&I highlights the need for additional metrics, social mobility, firm culture, staff development, data quality, and systematic strategies.
In 2021 and 2022, the FCA carried out a survey of...more
The Financial Services Skills Commission has issued an insight paper outlining how companies can collect and evaluate data on employees’ socioeconomic backgrounds.
Socioeconomic backgrounds of employees and socioeconomic...more
FCA makes clear that it expects a cultural shift in how firms focus on consumers.
On 7 December 2021, the FCA published its second Consultation Paper (CP21/36) on introducing a new Consumer Duty....more
12/10/2021
/ Consultation ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Duty of Care ,
Enforcement ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Good Faith ,
Public Comment ,
Retail Investors ,
SMCR ,
UK
A new national strategy report aims to combat climate-related risks to the US financial system.
On October 14, 2021, the Biden Administration issued “A Roadmap to Build a Climate-Resilient Economy” (the Roadmap), a...more
10/21/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Environmental Justice ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Budget ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FIO ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Information Reports ,
Insurance Industry ,
OMB ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Risk Alert ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
This decision shines a spotlight on the activities of unregulated introducers.
In a recent decision, the Court of Appeal upheld the FCA’s findings that unregulated introducers had been carrying on regulated activities...more
10/13/2021
/ Alternative Investment Funds ,
Appeals ,
Criminal Liability ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Statements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSMA ,
Pensions ,
Statutory Violations ,
UK ,
UK Regulated Activities Order (RAO Amendments) ,
Unregulated Entities
The global asset management community has long been among the leaders in recognising the investment and risk management benefits of tracking the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of the assets it invests...more
10/4/2021
/ Asset Management ,
Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Germany ,
Global Standards ,
Hong Kong ,
Investment Management ,
Multinationals ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
UK
UK rules will diverge from the much-criticised EU framework.
On 20 July 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/23) on amending the UK PRIIPs Regulation. The FCA has long held concerns about the PRIIPs...more
7/22/2021
/ Consultation ,
Corporate Bonds ,
Debt Securities ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Instruments ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment Funds ,
Market Participants ,
Packaged Retail And Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPS) ,
Regulation Technical Standards (RTS) ,
Retail Investors ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
FCA has published guiding principles on the design, delivery, and disclosure of ESG and sustainable investment funds.
On 19 July 2021, the FCA published a letter sent to chairs of authorised fund managers, which sets out...more
The FCA is proposing a disclosure regime for asset managers, life insurers, and pension providers.
On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/17) on introducing climate-related financial disclosure...more
6/28/2021
/ AIFM ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insurance Industry ,
Pensions ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
FCA found instances of non-compliance with the product governance rules which, in its view, increases the risk of investor harm.
Background -
On 26 February 2021, the FCA published a webpage setting out eight asset...more
3/2/2021
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Asset Management ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment Products ,
MiFID II ,
Packaged Retail And Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPS) ,
UCITS ,
UK
The FCA, Bank of England, and PRA have published updated rules for firms post-Brexit and intend to delay many (but not all) onshoring changes.
Key Points:
..The FCA has published an updated version of the FCA Handbook,...more
10/20/2020
/ Bank of England ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Dear CEO Letter ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Onshoring ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Time Extensions ,
Transitional Arrangements ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
In a July 2020 speech on climate action in the financial industry, Sarah Breeden, executive director for UK Deposit Takers Supervision, said the industry is “at the start of a critical decade for climate action where the...more
The UK government has proposed amendments to the UK PRIIPs regime with performance information in the KID to differ from the EU “performance scenario” requirement.
On 30 July 2020, HM Treasury published a policy statement...more
The CFRF’s practical Guide encourages UK regulated financial services firms to take active steps to manage climate-related financial risks.
Background -
On 29 June 2020, the Climate Financial Risk Forum (CFRF) launched...more
Brexit: Latest Updates -
Private banks are currently going through a process of assessing the changes that need to be made to their systems and controls, in addition to client facing documentation, to facilitate the...more
Important changes ahead for investment firms as the FCA’s Discussion Paper (DP20/2) indicates that the UK may depart from EU capital rules.
Key Points:
..FCA consults on a UK capital regime that in some respects breaks...more
Financial services regulators have been particularly vocal in the last 12 months, specifically about the impact on the financial services sector as the world experiences, and attempts to respond to, climate change.
Mark...more
Firms outside of Europe should be aware of planned upcoming changes to how they access European markets.
Key Points:
..The EU legislators have been reviewing various financial services regimes and developing reforms...more
1/14/2020
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Central Counterparties ,
Counterparties ,
Credit Rating Agencies ,
Cross-Border ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
EMIR ,
EU ,
EU Benchmark Regulation ,
European Commission ,
Financial Services Industry ,
MiFID II ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Third Country Entities (TCEs) ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
Q&As for UK Regulated Firms -
Although the general election result has provided some certainty in relation to what happens next from a Brexit perspective, there are still many outstanding questions. In addition, a large...more
1/7/2020
/ Cross-Border Transactions ,
EU ,
EU Passport ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Member State ,
No-Deal Brexit ,
Onshoring ,
Packaged Retail And Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPS) ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Transitional Arrangements ,
UK ,
UK Brexit ,
Withdrawal Agreement