Discussion Paper opens debate on potential new rules to improve diversity in financial services. By Rob Moulton, David Berman, Paul Davies, and Charlotte Collins On 7 July 2021, the FCA, the PRA, and the Bank of England published a joint Discussion Paper on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector. The regulators, in particular the … Continue Reading
By Rob Moulton, Nicola Higgs, Anne Mainwaring, Becky Critchley, and Anna Lewis-Martinez The latest edition of our Private Bank Briefing provides a roundup of legal and compliance issues impacting private banks and their clients from Q1 2021. In this edition, we cover some of the key regulatory announcements relating to MiFID II and the impact … Continue Reading
As COVID-19 sharpens the focus on corporate culture and ESG, organisations should be aware of heightened regulatory scrutiny. Corporate culture remains high on the financial regulatory agenda, and it’s likely to attract even more attention in the future. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the focus on organizational culture and the social and … Continue Reading
A watershed CFTC report highlights the dangers of climate change to the US economy, and provides a broad risk-mitigation roadmap. By Jean-Philippe Brisson, Paul A. Davies, Nicola Higgs, Yvette D. Valdez, R. Andrew Westgate, Kristina S. Wyatt, and Deric Behar On September 9, 2020, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s) Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee … Continue Reading
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt routine operations, OCIE reminds broker-dealers and investment advisers of their ongoing obligations. By Dana G. Fleischman, Nabil Sabki, Stephen P. Wink, Laura N. Ferrell, and Deric Behar On August 12, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a Risk Alert titled … Continue Reading
The measures grant relief for EU banks to enhance bank lending to companies and households. By Axel Schiemann and Dominik Schöneberger On 18 June 2020, the European Parliament approved the so-called CRR “quick fix” to Regulation (EU) 575/2013 (Capital Requirement Regulation (CRR)) and Regulation 2019/876 (Capital Requirement Regulation 2 (CRR2)) to mitigate the economic consequences … Continue Reading
New guidance for issuers and market participants on capital raising events and alternative working arrangements, and additional time allowed for filing half-yearly financial reports. By James Inness, Nicola Higgs, Connor Cahalane, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 27 May 2020, the FCA published its Primary Market Bulletin 28, which provides an update for issuers on temporary relief … Continue Reading
By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 30 April 2020, the FCA released a statement announcing a six-month extension to the deadline for firms’ implementation of strong customer authentication (SCA) for e-commerce under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (PSRs 2017). The FCA states that the extension is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is set … Continue Reading
In the wake of COVID-19, the SEC and FINRA are taking steps to support markets and market participants. By Dana G. Fleischman, Stephen P. Wink, and Deric Behar The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) continue to monitor and address ongoing impacts of COVID-19 to US capital … Continue Reading
FCA announces steps to obtain clarity for insurers and policyholders. By Victoria Sander, Martin Davies, Oliver Middleton, and Duncan Graves The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced today, 1 May 2020, that it is taking steps to resolve contractual uncertainty in business interruption (BI) insurance cover in light of COVID-19 and intends to apply urgently for a … Continue Reading
Economic aid legislation will likely result in increased scrutiny of certain industries, similar to investigations that followed relief efforts in the 2008 financial crisis. By the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) became law. It provides more than US$2 trillion in … Continue Reading
Further economic measures provide support for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as state and local economies facing pandemic hardships. By Alan W. Avery, Pia Naib, and Deric Behar The Federal Reserve, in its continuing efforts to safeguard financial markets, provide stability to the financial system, and support the flow of credit in the economy, … Continue Reading
Federal Reserve set to make up to $600 billion available to eligible small and mid-sized businesses. By Alan W. Avery, Courtenay Myers Lima, and Pia Naib On April 9, 2020, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) announced details regarding the terms and conditions of two Main Street lending facilities to … Continue Reading
New legislation suspends contractual obligations for the next six months with related disputes subject to a separate dispute resolution system. By Farhana Sharmeen and Marc Jia Renn Tan On 7 April 2020, the Singapore Parliament passed the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act (the Act) offering temporary relief to businesses and individuals who are unable to fulfil … Continue Reading
The package combines temporary policy interventions and existing options to help companies raise new share capital during the COVID-19 crisis. By Chris Horton, James Inness, Rob Moulton, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 8 April 2020, the FCA published a Statement of Policy and related technical supplements aimed at helping companies to raise new share capital during … Continue Reading
The three US federal banking agencies continue to take additional steps to promote the functioning of the financial system in the face of the pandemic. By Alan W. Avery, Pia Naib, and Deric Behar The three US federal banking agencies — the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), the Federal Deposit … Continue Reading
A summary of key COVID-19-related measures announced by the UK government to support businesses and workers. By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez Starting with the budget on 11 March 2020, the UK government has outlined significant measures to support British businesses and workers on an unprecedented scale during the COVID-19 outbreak. These measures include: the … Continue Reading
The CMA recognises that businesses may need to cooperate to ensure supply of essential products and services during the COVID-19 outbreak. By Rob Moulton, David Little, Gregory Bonné, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 27 March 2020, the FCA and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) announced their support for the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) guidance on its … Continue Reading
UK Regulators announce new measures after acknowledging firms affected by COVID-19 will need to keep their governance arrangements under review. By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 3 April 2020, the FCA and the PRA released a statement announcing several new governance measures for dual-regulated firms amid the COVID-19 outbreak under the Senior Managers and … Continue Reading
The FCA sets out its approach on client identity verification, supervisory flexibility over best execution obligations and 10% depreciation notifications, and financial resilience. By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 31 March 2020, the FCA published a Dear CEO letter to firms providing services to retail investors about COVID-19. The FCA makes it clear that it expects … Continue Reading
Seven of the largest systemically important UK deposit-takers to suspend dividends and share buybacks and to cancel payments of any outstanding 2019 dividends. By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 31 March 2020, the PRA published a statement on deposit takers’ approach to dividend payments, share buybacks, and cash bonuses in response to COVID-19. The PRA … Continue Reading
Proposed changes to UK insolvency laws aim to support companies under pressure due to COVID-19. By Rob Moulton and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 28 March 2020, the UK government announced a number of reforms to UK insolvency laws: The temporary suspension of existing wrongful trading rules retrospectively from 1 March 2020 for three months, so that … Continue Reading
In three recent Client Alerts, Latham & Watkins lawyers examine how government measures to fight COVID-19 may affect French M&A transactions, key questions for French listed companies and high yield issuers, and how companies can respond to the impact on their current French law contracts. By Latham’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, and Litigation & … Continue Reading
Market participants must treat clients fairly and exercise care when recommending potentially volatile or illiquid products. By Simon Hawkins and Kenneth Y.F. Hui In response to ongoing volatility in local and international markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, on 27 March 2020, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published two circulars reminding fund … Continue Reading
