The ESAs urge the European Commission to consider a labelling rather than a disclosure regime to help consumers understand the sustainability goals of financial products....more
6/27/2024
/ Banking Sector ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) ,
Insurance Industry ,
Labeling ,
Marketing ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Political Agreement Reached on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Rules -
On 14 December 2023, the European Council (Council) and European Parliament (Parliament) reached a political agreement on the Corporate...more
The changes will significantly modernise the regime and enhance consumer protections.
The EU has adopted a new Consumer Credit Directive, known as CCD2, which repeals and replaces the existing EU consumer credit regime...more
The proposal would substantially reduce the number of benchmarks in scope of the EU BMR.
On 17 October 2023, the European Commission published a legislative proposal that would significantly alter the benchmarks in scope...more
The EU regulators are reviewing the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation introduced in 2021, exploring the need for potential additional adjustments.
On 14 September 2023, the European Commission initiated a...more
9/27/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Finance ,
Investment Products ,
SFDR ,
Sustainable Finance ,
UK
An evolving landscape of reforms in the ESG ratings sector continues to pose challenges to providers of ratings and scores.
International momentum to regulate ESG ratings continues as the European Commission released a...more
6/16/2023
/ Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Collection ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Global Market ,
HM Treasury ,
India ,
IOSCO ,
Japan ,
Ratings ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Agenda
As the “most ambitious legislative proposal since the inception of EU financial regulation”, the changes would make significant amendments to MiFID II and PRIIPs.
On 24 May 2023, the European Commission (Commission)...more
6/6/2023
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Best Interest Standard ,
Capital Markets Union ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Member State ,
MiFID ,
MiFID II ,
Packaged Retail And Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPS) ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Retail Investors ,
Solvency II ,
UCITS
The Commission has clarified requirements for financial product classifications and the definition of “sustainable investment” under the SFDR. ...more
5/24/2023
/ Alternative Investment Funds ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) ,
Financial Products ,
Investors ,
Market Participants ,
Marketing ,
Regulation Technical Standards (RTS) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
UCITS
Latham lawyers highlight key takeaways and developments in the sustainability space from the second half of the year.
...more
12/22/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Forced Labor ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Investment Funds ,
Sustainability
EU Parliament and Council reach agreement on CSRD -
European Parliament and European Council | 21 June 2022 -
The European Parliament and European Council reached a provisional political agreement on the terms of the...more
8/18/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Blocked Mergers ,
Corporate Governance ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Exemptions ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
The package focuses on material sustainability reporting and disclosure obligations, as the EU looks to direct capital toward sustainable activities.
On 21 April 2021, one day prior to Earth Day and a US-led global...more
6/14/2021
/ AIFM ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Green Finance ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
MiFID ,
MiFID II ,
Net Zero ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
UCITS
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the EU Regulatory & Antitrust Monitoring on Sustainability newsletter. The September issue features six key takeaways from the past month to which companies and investors operating in the EU...more
Many of the wide-ranging amendments address the perceived barriers MiFID II introduced in capital markets and are likely to be welcomed by industry.
Key Points:
..The amendments aim to remove administrative burdens that...more
The three draft delegated regulations set out sustainability criteria and ESG disclosure requirements for benchmarks provided in accordance with the EU Benchmarks Regulation.
Key Points:
..The measures follow amendments...more
The consultation provides a key opportunity for market participants to provide feedback on the regime.
Key Points:
..The consultation covers a broad range of MiFID topics and, while framed as a questionnaire, contains...more
2/27/2020
/ Commodities ,
Derivatives ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
FinTech ,
Foreign Exchanges ,
Investors ,
MiFID II ,
MiFIR ,
Public Consultations ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
ESMA has published its response to the Commission’s review of the BMR, which gives an indication of the areas where changes to the regulation are more likely to be made.
Key Points:
..ESMA’s response to the European...more
The AMF has published a report containing a number of new proposals relating to production of research under MiFID II.
Key Points:
..The report pointedly criticises the original MiFID requirements (most of which were...more
2/19/2020
/ AMF ,
Asset Management ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Federal Agency Taskforce ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
France ,
MiFID II ,
Research Reports ,
UK ,
UK Brexit ,
Unbundling
Firms outside of Europe should be aware of planned upcoming changes to how they access European markets.
Key Points:
..The EU legislators have been reviewing various financial services regimes and developing reforms...more
1/14/2020
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Central Counterparties ,
Counterparties ,
Credit Rating Agencies ,
Cross-Border ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
EMIR ,
EU ,
EU Benchmark Regulation ,
European Commission ,
Financial Services Industry ,
MiFID II ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Third Country Entities (TCEs) ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
Consultation Paper looks at ways in which issues with the KID requirements could be improved.
Key Points:
- The ESAs are seeking to make adjustments to the PRIIPs KID requirements to address ongoing issues relating to...more
European Commission review will inform potential future legislative change.
Key Points:
..The European Commission is seeking views on various aspects of the regime, and asking for feedback on areas in which improvements...more
Consultation provides chance for industry to comment on which elements of the regime are working well and where change is needed.
Key Points:
..ESMA is seeking industry views on various aspects of MAR and whether they...more
10/11/2019
/ Banking Sector ,
Benchmarks ,
Comment Period ,
Competition ,
EU ,
EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU MAR) ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insider Information ,
New Guidance
The European Commission has set out the elements of MAR that it wishes to consider as part of a planned review.
Key Points:
..The formal review of MAR will consider not only the topics mandated for review by the...more
Report concludes that the AIFMD has been helpful in building a market for AIFs, but is not free from issues.
Key Points:
..The report concludes that the AIFMD has played a significant role in helping to create an...more
1/15/2019
/ AIFs ,
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
EMIR ,
EU ,
EU Passport ,
European Commission ,
Investment Funds ,
Packaged Retail And Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPS) ,
Private Equity ,
Private Placements ,
UCITS
The Commission shares the results of a 2017 study into the current functioning of European markets for retail investment products.
Key Points:
..The European Commission’s Final Report is the result of examining a broad...more