This publication provides an overview of the top trending issues as we approach this year’s AGM and reporting season. We highlight key areas of AGM practices and reporting that will need to adapt to recent legal and...more
1/15/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Investors ,
Proxy Season ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
UK
An overview of the key developments around reforming the UK capital markets regime following Lord Hill's UK Listings Review, launched as part of the UK government's plan to strengthen the UK's position as a leading global...more
The consultation paper confirms a radical approach to bolster the international competitiveness of the UK markets and return to a disclosure-based listing framework.
The FCA today published consultation paper CP23/31...more
Major Update on FRC Policy and Reset on Corporate Governance Reforms Plus CMIT Open Letter, With More to Come -
On 7 November 2023, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced a significant and wide-ranging policy...more
The FRC’s future work will be assessed through the lens of the UK’s economic growth and international competitiveness.
On 7 November 2023, the FRC announced a significant and wide-ranging policy update which included a...more
On 16 October 2023, Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, delivered a speech at the City Dinner at Mansion House which describes the FCA’s work in supporting international competitiveness and growth. Amongst other things,...more
11/2/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Green Finance ,
Listing Standards ,
Net Zero ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Takeover Bids ,
Takeovers ,
Target Company ,
UK
The FCA reminds market soundings recipients of their obligations under UK MAR best practices for trading during the market sounding period.
On 31 October 2023, the FCA published Market Watch 75 reminding firms of the...more
Companies had raised serious concerns about the additional red tape that the proposed reporting obligations would require.
On 16 October 2023, the UK government withdrew the draft Companies (Strategic Report and...more
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the key developments around reforming the UK capital markets regime following Lord Hill’s UK Listings Review, launched on 19 November 2020 as part of the UK...more
10/12/2023
/ Accounting Standards ,
Acquisitions ,
Capital Markets ,
Capital Raising ,
Complex Corporate Transactions ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Listing Standards ,
Mergers ,
Public Offerings ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholder Approval ,
UK ,
UK Regulatory Reforms
Companies Invited to Voluntarily Adopt New Nature-related Financial Disclosure Framework -
On 18 September 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published its final recommendations for...more
10/3/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
IFRS ,
Listing Standards ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Risk Management ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK ,
Voluntary Disclosure
On 10 August 2023, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 45, which describes its process for developing its policy position in relation to the new ISSB standards and developing climate-related transition plan guidance for...more
9/5/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Code of Conduct ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Ratings ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The Hong Kong Court confirmed that noteholders with beneficial interest in global notes do not have standing to present winding-up petitions against issuers.
Meanwhile, the BVI Court reached the opposite conclusion in a...more
New Legislative Measures to Strengthen UK Corporate Reporting -
On 19 July 2023, the draft Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) Regulations were laid in Parliament....more
8/2/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Digital Securities ,
Draft Guidance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Information Reports ,
MiFID II ,
MTFs ,
New Regulations ,
Performance Reviews ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Research Tools ,
Trading Platforms ,
UK
The FCA reveals its initial thinking on the regulatory framework for primary multilateral trading facilities and public offer platforms.
On 13 July 2023, the FCA published its fifth and sixth engagement papers to solicit...more
This edition covers new global sustainability reporting standards, proposals to reform corporate criminal liability laws, the enactment of FSMA 2023, FRC guidance on dividend reporting, Investment Association guidance on...more
7/10/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Liability ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSMA ,
IFRS ,
Market Abuse ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
Transparency ,
UK
Two recent landmark decisions provide valuable guidance on this commonly used form of credit enhancement.
Keepwell deeds have in recent years grown into a common form of credit enhancement used by companies in mainland...more
7/6/2023
/ Bonds ,
China ,
Debt Instruments ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Enforceability ,
Exclusive Jurisdiction ,
Financial Instruments ,
Hong Kong ,
Liquidation ,
Popular ,
Subsidiaries
An overview of the key developments around reforming the UK capital markets regime following Lord Hill's UK Listings Review, launched as part of the UK government's plan to strengthen the UK's position as a leading global...more
This edition covers proposed major reforms to the listing and prospectus regimes, corporate governance reforms largely relating to audit and internal controls, and proposed changes to the Takeover Code affecting the...more
6/5/2023
/ Audits ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Listing Rules ,
Listing Standards ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Prospectus ,
Public Consultations ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
UK
FCA takes an innovative approach to obtain feedback from industry and stakeholder groups.
In May 2023, the FCA launched a process of engagement and dialogue on how the UK’s future prospectus regime could operate....more
A bankruptcy petition should not proceed if the debt is disputed and subject to an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of a foreign court.
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (CFA) has ruled that if a bankruptcy...more
Proposals significantly reduce the regulatory burden on premium listed companies.
On 3 May 2023, the FCA published a consultation paper CP23/10 which sets out a blueprint for changes to the UK listing regime and the...more
Proposals dramatically reduce the regulatory burden on listed companies.
On 3 May 2023, the FCA published a consultation paper CP23/10 which sets out a blueprint for changes to the UK listing regime. The key reform...more
This edition covers the FCA’s priorities for the next 12 months, the ICGN statement on post-pandemic AGM practices, Takeover Code changes affecting competitive bids, and a proposed new corporate “failure to prevent fraud”...more
5/2/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Internal Controls ,
Market Abuse ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Takeover Code ,
Takeovers ,
UK
This is the first decision by the Hong Kong Court on whether clients of a crypto exchange have proprietary claims to cryptocurrencies held on the platform. It confirms that cryptocurrency constitutes property under Hong Kong...more
This edition covers upcoming reforms to the UK listing regime, the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 44, the launch of a review into the UK investment research landscape, the PLSA’s 2023 Stewardship and Voting Guidelines, and...more
4/3/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
HM Treasury ,
Listing Standards ,
MiFID ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Research Reports ,
Shareholders ,
UK