The Treasury (HMT) launched a consultation and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a call for input in April 2025 kick-starting a review of the UK’s regulatory regime for Alternative Investment Fund Managers...more
5/23/2025
/ EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
HM Treasury ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
Private Equity ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK
AIFMD II introduces substantial changes to the EU-wide regulatory framework for alternative investment fund managers (“AIFMs”) that was established under AIFMD. The changes cover a wide range of areas but will have a...more
At present, Cryptoassets are largely unregulated in the UK. However, the growth of crypto cannot be ignored and many argue that regulators need to take action to ensure adequate consumer protections are in place and to...more
1/31/2025
/ AML/CFT ,
Cryptoassets ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FSMA ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
UK
The FCA, PRA, and Bank of England have published their finalised critical third party (CTP) rules (and accompanying guidance) in PS24/16 Operational resilience: Critical third parties to the UK financial sector....more
11/25/2024
/ Bank of England ,
Compliance ,
Consultation ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
HM Treasury ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology ,
Technology Sector ,
Third-Party ,
Third-Party Risk ,
Third-Party Service Provider ,
UK
Long IT sub-contracting chains can make it hard for financial institutions to understand the vulnerabilities in their IT estate and the location of key functions (where these may be located in entities who do not have a...more
9/23/2024
/ Bank of England ,
Compliance ,
Compliance Dates ,
Cybersecurity ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Markets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) ,
Information Technology ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Technology ,
Third-Party Service Provider ,
UK
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in green products and the promotion of sustainable objectives across the financial services industry. For example, we have seen much discussion of green loans, green...more
2/13/2024
/ Banks ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
France ,
Germany ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment Funds ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The much-promised financial promotions gateway has now become law. The UK financial promotions regime is undergoing a large amount of change at the moment, which we discussed previously....more
Welcome to Banking Bites! This is our short summary flagging some key developments in your sector that we hope will inform your activities in your market....more
11/10/2022
/ Anti-Fraud Provisions ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banking Sector ,
Business Interruption ,
Commercial Court ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptoassets ,
Disparate Impact ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Financial Stability Board ,
Fraud ,
Greenwashing ,
Imports ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
NYDFS ,
Russia ,
Trade Restrictions ,
UK ,
UK Parliament ,
Ukraine
Welcome to Banking Bites! This is our short summary flagging some key developments in your sector that we hope will inform your activities in your market....more
10/21/2022
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank of England ,
Climate Change ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
FDIC ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreign Investment ,
NY Supreme Court ,
Pending Legislation ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Russia ,
UK
Welcome to Banking Bites! This is our short summary flagging key developments in the UK that we hope will inform your activities in your market....more
9/22/2022
/ Banking Sector ,
Change in Control ,
Cryptoassets ,
Dear CEO Letter ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Payment Protection Insurance ,
Reporting Requirements ,
UK ,
UK Supreme Court ,
Unfair Contract Terms
Welcome to Banking Bites! This is our short summary flagging key developments in the UK that we hope will inform your activities in your market.
This edition covers...more
7/14/2022
/ Banking Sector ,
Capital Markets ,
Compliance ,
Congressional Committees ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Electronic Communications ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Crimes ,
Health and Safety ,
Internal Controls ,
Mental Health ,
New Guidance ,
Online Platforms ,
Russia ,
UK
On 18 May 2022 a draft report on ‘AIFMD II’ was published, containing proposals by a rapporteur presented to the ECON committee. It sets out a list of suggested amendments to the European Commission (the Commission)’s draft...more
Today (25 November 2021) the European Commission (the Commission) released the results of its evaluation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) which forms part of a Capital Markets Union legislative...more
11/29/2021
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Alternative Investment Funds ,
Asset Management ,
Capital Markets Union ,
ELTIF ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
International Harmonization ,
Member State ,
MiFID ,
Proposed Legislation ,
UCITS ,
UK
On 3 November 2021 the FCA published a discussion paper (DP) seeking views on how best to introduce Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) for certain asset managers and FCA-regulated asset owners, as well as a...more
11/5/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Discussion Draft ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting ,
Product Labels ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
Building on its ambition to develop the UK as an international centre for green finance, as first set out in its 2019 Green Finance Strategy, the Government has published its Roadmap to Sustainable Investing. There are four...more
10/22/2021
/ Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Economic Area (EEA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
G7 ,
Green Finance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
Taxonomy ,
UK
At our recent Funds First webinar we shared some technical and market issues and updates on a selection of key developments of impact for real estate funds. Our discussion covered the Long Term Asset Fund (LTAF) , the...more
9/27/2021
/ AIFM ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investment Funds ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
REIT ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The FCA has published its much-anticipated consultation (CP21/17) on climate-related financial disclosures and guidance for UK asset managers, UK life insurers and FCA-regulated pension providers. Consistent with the...more
6/25/2021
/ AIFM ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting ,
Financial Statements ,
Information Reports ,
Listing Rules ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
On 14 May 2021, the FCA published Consultation Paper CP21/13 outlining much-anticipated proposals relating to the standards expected of regulated firms to ensure the protection of retail consumers. The Consultation Paper...more
The FCA has launched its consultation (the Consultation), open for feedback until 25 June 2021, on a new category of authorised fund vehicle designed to accommodate investment in illiquid assets, the Long Term Asset Fund...more
Welcome to our Spring 2021 Funds First Update: a snapshot of some of the main developments and upcoming changes that we think will be of interest to fund managers, fund investors and to the funds sector as a whole. Despite...more
2/16/2021
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Fund Management Companies ,
Fund Managers ,
HM Treasury ,
Investment Funds ,
Open-Ended Fund Companies (OFCs) ,
REIT ,
UK Brexit
ESMA has issued a stark reminder that reverse solicitation, where it can be used, has to be carefully managed and documented, and is an area of regulatory scrutiny and focus. This short note also takes stock on the EU27...more
1/14/2021
/ AIFM ,
AIFMD Passport ,
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
EU Passport ,
European Economic Area (EEA) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
MiFID II ,
Private Placements ,
Reverse Solicitation ,
Trade Agreements ,
UK
The European Commission (the Commission) has published its long-awaited Consultation on AIFMD. It covers a range of subjects, under the broad headings of authorisation/scope, investor protection, international relations,...more
Since July 2019, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has been consulting on proposals to bring the promotion of certain types of cryptoassets within the scope of financial promotions regulation. One of the more...more
Welcome to our Funds First Update: a snapshot of some of the main developments and upcoming changes that we think will be of interest to fund managers, fund investors and to the funds sector as a whole. Despite the...more
The European Commission has published its long awaited report into the application and scope of AIFMD. The report is generally positive and concludes that overall AIFMD has been successful in meeting its objectives....more