On 13 November 2024, the European Commission published 90 frequently asked questions (‘‘FAQs’’) with the aim of enhancing stakeholders’ understanding and compliance with the sustainability reporting requirements under the...more
On 14 November 2024, Rachel Reeves set out in her first Mansion House Speech that “sustainable finance” was to be one of the UK’s five priorities in the government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy (the...more
Background On 14 November 2024, the United Kingdom’s Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered a speech setting out the UK Government’s vision to grow and enhance the competitiveness of the financial services sector (the...more
11/18/2024
/ Bank of England ,
Competition ,
Economic Growth ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment Adviser ,
MiFID ,
Payment Systems ,
Pensions ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
SMRC ,
Sustainability ,
UK
On 24 October 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA“) released its 2024 European Common Enforcement Priorities (“ECEP“) for corporate reporting, drawing particular attention to sustainability and...more
On 11 November 2024, the Financial Reporting Council (“FRC”) launched a consultation with significant updates proposed to the UK Stewardship Code (the “Code”). The aims of the consultation are to streamline reporting...more
The recent ESMA Final Report on the Guidelines for funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms (the “Guidelines”) marks a critical moment for asset managers. These Guidelines aim to clarify when the use of ESG or...more
11/14/2024
/ AIFM ,
Alternative Investment Funds ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Economic Area (EEA) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Misleading Statements ,
National Private Placement Regimes (NPPR) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
UCITS
On 30 October 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ("CSRD") standards for global groups with a significant European footprint took a notable public step forward. The European Financial Reporting Advisory...more
On 1 November 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) updated its sustainability disclosure and labelling regime website and added detailed examples of pre-contractual disclosures to its Sustainability Disclosure...more
Background of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was entered force on 25 July 2024. The purpose of this Directive is to promote sustainable and...more
10/7/2024
/ Compensation ,
Compliance ,
Data Collection ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Human Rights ,
Noncompliance ,
OECD ,
Popular ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
The deadline for EU member states (‘‘Member States’’) to implement the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) into national laws was 6 July 2024. Under EU infringement procedures, the European Commission...more
Welcome to the Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation....more
9/11/2024
/ Bank of England ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investigations ,
Investment ,
Labeling ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Sustainability ,
Transparency ,
UK
ESMA has translated their Guidelines on ESG-related fund names, which has started the clock for applicability. For information on the asset allocation thresholds and the exclusionary criteria, alongside the funds in scope and...more
Welcome to the Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation....more
8/7/2024
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) ,
Cryptoassets ,
ELTIF ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
International Competition Network ,
Listing Rules ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
UK
On 17 July 2024, the King of the United Kingdom delivered a speech to mark the opening of a new UK Parliament (the “Speech”). The Speech set out the new UK Government’s priorities, following their election victory. This...more
On 18 June 2024, the European Supervisory Authorities (the “ESAs”) published a joint opinion (the “Opinion”) on their recommendations for the next iteration of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”)....more
Key developments in May 2024: ESG: The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) updated its webpage on the sustainability disclosure requirements (“SDR”) and investments labelling regime. Among other things, the webpage has been...more
6/12/2024
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Asset Management ,
Capital Markets ,
Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRDIV) ,
Cryptoassets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EMIR ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investment ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Retail Investors ,
Securitization ,
Sustainability ,
UK
On 31 May 2024, a new anti-greenwashing rule is being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) as part of its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”). We cover here the introduction of the FCA’s...more
5/30/2024
/ AIFM ,
Asset Management ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services and Markets Act ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Misleading Statements ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
UK
The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) has published its Final Report on the Guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms (the “Guidelines”). ESMA was provided with the mandates to...more
After political to-and-fro for over two years, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (“CS3D”) made it over the line on 24 April 2024 with the European Parliament formally approving it.
We set out the headline...more
On 31 May, 2024, a new anti‑greenwashing rule is being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) as part of its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”). However, the FCA has only recently published...more
The Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) on 23 April 2024 has published its Consultation Paper CP24/8 (the “CP”) on the extension of its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”) to portfolio managers. This follows...more
ESG continues to be a hot topic for 2024 for investors and regulators alike. The specific concerns investors and regulators have – and what they expect to develop over the coming months – differ, however, across...more
4/1/2024
/ Breach of Duty ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Statements ,
Form 10-K ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Jurisdiction ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulation S-K ,
Regulation S-X ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Sustainability ,
UK
ESMA has, on 14 December 2023, published a public statement updating its Guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms. This follows the consultation paper on the same topic that ran until 20 February...more
On 14 December 2023, there was an initial agreement by the EU Parliament and the EU Council on the final text of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”).
CSDDD is a significant and impactful piece...more
On 28 November 2023, the long-awaited UK regime for the labelling, marketing and disclosure of sustainable funds (Sustainability Disclosure Requirements or “SDR”) has been published in the Financial Conduct Authority’s...more
11/29/2023
/ AIFM ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment ,
Labeling ,
Marketing ,
Reporting Requirements ,
SFDR ,
Stewardship Code ,
Sustainability ,
UK