The revised criteria allow UK-listed SPACs to avoid a suspension of their shares when announcing a de-SPAC deal. By Nicola Higgs, David Berman, Chris Horton, James Inness, Rob Moulton, Anna Ngo, and Charlotte Collins The UK, acting through the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), will implement a new SPAC listing regime from 10 August 2021. This follows a consultation launched in April … Continue Reading
UK rules will diverge from the much-criticised EU framework. By Nicola Higgs and Charlotte Collins 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 framework, and pre-Brexit had been heavily involved in efforts to persuade EU lawmakers to … Continue Reading
FCA has published guiding principles on the design, delivery, and disclosure of ESG and sustainable investment funds. By Nicola Higgs, David Berman, Paul Davies, Anne Mainwaring, and Charlotte Collins On 19 July 2021, the FCA published a letter sent to chairs of authorised fund managers, which sets out the regulator’s expectations regarding disclosures by funds … Continue Reading
FCA signals that it aims to take a tougher stance. By Rob Moulton and Charlotte Collins The FCA published its Business Plan for 2021/22 on 15 July 2021. The Plan, and accompanying remarks made by Nikhil Rathi, FCA CEO, suggest that the FCA intends to take a more assertive and proactive approach in future. While … Continue Reading
ESMA warns against investor protection risks and provides guidance on expected disclosures. By Nicola Higgs, Chris Horton, James Inness, Rob Moulton, Oliver Seiler, Isabella Porchia, and Charlotte Collins On 15 July 2021, ESMA published a statement on the prospectus disclosure and investor protection issues raised by special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). SPAC activity in the … Continue Reading
New ESMA guidance less strict than the established UK position on PFOF. By Rob Moulton, Axel Schiemann, Thomas Vogel, and Charlotte Collins On 13 July 2021, ESMA published a statement on payment for order flow (PFOF), the practice of brokers receiving payments from third parties for directing client order flow to these third parties as … Continue Reading
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
The FCA is consulting on extending its rules to standard listed issuers. By Paul A. Davies, Chris Horton, James Inness, Anna Ngo, and Charlotte Collins On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/18) on extending the application of the existing climate-related disclosure requirements for commercial companies with a UK premium listing to a wider scope of listed … Continue Reading
The FCA is proposing a disclosure regime for asset managers, life insurers, and pension providers. By Paul Davies, Nicola Higgs, Victoria Sander, David Berman, Anne Mainwaring, and Charlotte Collins On 22 June 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/17) on introducing climate-related financial disclosure rules and guidance for asset managers, life insurers, and FCA-regulated … Continue Reading
The FCA is proposing to set higher expectations for firms operating in retail markets. By Andrea Monks, David Berman, Jon Holland and Charlotte Collins On 14 May 2021, the FCA published a Consultation Paper (CP21/13) on introducing a new Consumer Duty. This consultation is intended to fulfil the FCA’s new statutory obligation to consult on … 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
By Becky Critchley and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 5 March 2021, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) formally announced the dates for the cessation of all London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) benchmark settings currently published by ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA). The FCA also confirmed that where a “synthetic” LIBOR is available after the cessation dates, the … Continue Reading
FCA found instances of non-compliance with the product governance rules which, in its view, increases the risk of investor harm. By Nicola Higgs, Anne Mainwaring, and Jonathan Ritson-Candler Background On 26 February 2021, the FCA published a webpage setting out eight asset management firms’ implementation of the UK MiFID II product governance requirements. The sample … Continue Reading
An FCA report evaluates the chequered implementation of technology change and identifies risks and best practices to help firms better navigate this change. By Andrew C. Moyle, Alain Traill, and Jagveen S. Tyndall Of the nearly 1,000 “material incidents” reported to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2019, 17% were caused by change-related activity. … Continue Reading
The Woolard Review emphasises the urgency to bring all BNPL products under FCA supervision and sets out recommendations for the unsecured credit market. By Stuart Davis, Becky Critchley, and Anna Lewis-Martinez The UK government has announced that interest-free buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) credit agreements will be regulated by the FCA. Currently, the BNPL market operates under an … Continue Reading
The PRA has released a largely positive report, along with nine follow-up actions and recommendations on the SMCR for PRA-regulated firms. By Rob Moulton, Katy Sanders, and Anna Lewis-Martinez The PRA reviewed the operation of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) against its original objectives and examined whether there have been any unintended consequences. … Continue Reading
FCA director highlights areas of concern in relation to ESG reporting and provides recommendations. By Paul A. Davies, Nicola Higgs, Michael D. Green, and Anna Lewis-Martinez Richard Monks, Director of Strategy at the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), recently delivered a speech on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting regime and how it can … Continue Reading
FCA’s Stephen Hanks discusses onshoring and how to ensure regulatory compliance before the year’s end. With the end of the Brexit transition period looming, many financial services firms are asking what they need to do between now and the end of the year to ensure regulatory compliance. In this episode of Connected With Latham, Anne … Continue Reading
Equivalence decisions for EEA states, green finance and fintech initiatives are at the forefront of the UK government’s priorities. By Rob Moulton, Anne Mainwaring, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 9 November 2020, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered a statement setting out plans for the start of a new chapter for UK financial … Continue Reading
The UK government signals a diversion from the onshored regime towards a more flexible financial services regulatory framework. By Rob Moulton, Anne Mainwaring, and Anna Lewis-Martinez HM Treasury has published a consultation paper marking the start of Phase II of its financial services review, which will focus on the broader regulatory framework for financial services … Continue Reading
Regulators and industry groups strongly encourage market participants to adopt ISDA’s much-anticipated IBOR Fallbacks Protocol and Definitions Supplement. By Yvette D. Valdez, Becky Critchley, Deric Behar, and Anna Lewis-Martinez The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) has published a statement from its Board of Directors confirming that on October 23, 2020 it will launch its … Continue Reading
The FCA has provided updated guidance on the SMCR for solo-regulated firms, with new information on good and bad practices in two key areas. By David Berman and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 14 August 2020, the FCA updated its webpage on the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) for solo-regulated firms. The updates include tables setting … Continue Reading
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. By Nicola Higgs and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 30 July 2020, HM Treasury published a policy statement on amendments to the Packaged Retail Investment and Insurance-based Products (PRIIPs) Regulation. The policy … Continue Reading
HM Treasury is planning significant changes to the financial promotion regime, including expanding its scope to certain cryptoassets, and amending the approval process for promotions of unauthorised firms. By Stuart Davis, Sam Maxson, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 20 July 2020, HM Treasury published two consultation papers on a regulatory framework for approval of financial promotions … Continue Reading
