On 15 June 2023, The Insider Dealing (Securities and Regulated Markets) Order 2023 (the “2023 Order”) came into force. The 2023 Order seeks to align certain outdated aspects of the UK’s criminal insider dealing regime under...more
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) on May 3, 2023, published consultation paper CP23/10 (the “Consultation Paper”), which sets out the FCA’s proposals to significantly reform the UK’s equity listing regime. The...more
ESG – environmental, social and governance factors – has become a major focus for organisations which are under growing pressure to demonstrate they are doing the right thing and executing their commitments to sustainable...more
10/14/2022
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Investors ,
Nasdaq ,
Net Zero ,
Public Policy ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
SFDR ,
Stakeholder Engagement ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability
On 26 May 2022, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) published a discussion paper (DP22/2), setting out its response to feedback received to consultation paper 21/21: Primary Markets Effectiveness Review and seeking...more
The national security and foreign direct investment (“FDI”) review landscape around the world is evolving rapidly. A pre-pandemic trend of active FDI reviews in countries around the world has gained momentum and resulted in...more
On 24 March 2022, the Takeover Panel (the “Panel”) issued a note to advisers on disclosure of information under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”) and a note to advisers in relation to Rule 2.8 statements. Such notes do...more
On 17 November 2021, the Takeover Panel (the “Panel”) published Panel Bulletin 3 (the “Bulletin”) relating to the requirements of Rule 2.10(c) of the Takeover Code (the “Code”). Under Rule 2.10(c), a person who has given an...more
On 30 April 2021, the FCA consulted on proposals to change the UK Listing Rules to remove the presumption that the listing of a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) be suspended when it identifies a potential...more
On 19 August 2021, the Regulatory Horizons Council (the “RHC”) published a report setting out recommendations for reforming the regulation of medical devices in the UK (the “Report”). The RHC is an independent expert...more
On 30 April 2021, the FCA consulted on proposals to change the UK Listing Rules to remove the presumption that the listing of a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) be suspended when it identifies a potential...more
The value of the global medicinal cannabis market is projected to reach US$62.7 billion by 2024, with over US$22 billion of that market generated by Europe and an estimated excess of £2 billion likely to be generated in the...more
6/29/2021
/ Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investment ,
Investment Funds ,
Investors ,
London Stock Exchange ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Popular ,
UK
The European Commission has issued new Standard Contractual Clauses designed to facilitate international transfers of personal data in compliance with the GDPR. The new provisions better reflect the variety of global data...more
On 29 April 2021 the Financial Services Bill 2019-21 received Royal Assent and the Financial Services Act 2021 (the “Act”) was published. This OnPoint sets out three key aspects of the Act and the implications for issuers....more
On 29 April 2021, the UK Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") published a discussion paper (DP21/1) seeking consultation on proposals to amend the financial promotion rules. The consultation mainly seeks feedback in relation...more
Following on from the recent Hill Review of the UK Listing Rules and its recommendations, we reported on the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (“FCA”) response and how the proposed changes might affect the SPAC market. On 19...more
On 31 March 2021 the Takeover Panel (the Panel) published its Response Statement (RS 2020/1) setting out significant changes to the Takeover Code (the Code) in relation to conditions to offers and the offer timetable....more
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, commonly known as ‘SPACs’ or ‘blank check companies’, have recently seen a huge uplift in investor appetite with little sign of this trend abating any time soon. Understandably, SPACs...more
A flurry of changes to stock exchange rules and capital markets regulation and practice have been introduced following the end of the Brexit transition period in the UK on 31 December 2020, as well as new initiatives launched...more
On 3 March 2021, Lord Hill published his recommendations from the UK Listing Review (the "Review"). The Review was launched by the Chancellor in November 2020 to further enhance the UK’s position as an international...more
COVID-19 has had a significant financial impact on many listed companies and, in recent months, there has been a marked increase in equity capital raises by listed companies. As at 22 July 2020, there have been over 100...more
8/17/2020
/ Biotechnology ,
Capital Raising ,
Equity Securities ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Life Sciences ,
Mergers ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Popular ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
UK
The capital markets are in a state of unprecedented volatility, with major losses in equities reflecting fears about the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as a result of the sharp slump in oil prices. Despite...more
The Government’s announcement of new measures on 23 March 2020 requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes, and to stay two metres away from other people has had an effect on the ability of public...more
On 6 March 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) launched a consultation paper outlining new climate-related disclosure requirements for premium listed issuers and consulting on guidance on existing obligations set...more
3/21/2020
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation Periods ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Proposed Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
In November 2007, the European Investment Bank set the blueprint for sustainable investment with the issuance of the world’s first green bond. Since then, interest in green finance, and in particular, green bonds, has...more
2/13/2020
/ Africa ,
ASEAN Funds ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Global Economy ,
Green Bonds ,
Green Finance ,
International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) ,
Investment Funds ,
London Stock Exchange ,
Luxembourg Stock Exchange ,
Middle East ,
Nigerian Stock Exchange ,
Sukuk ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Taxonomy
Following the high profile direct listings by Spotify in 2018 and Slack in 2019, direct listings have been an area of increased focus in recent years, with both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq seeking rule...more