1. Bank regulation - 1.1 PRUDENTIAL REGULATION - a) General - (i) EU - EBA: Updated methodology on the regulatory and supervisory equivalence of non-EU countries - Status: Final - The EBA has published its updated...more
In this quarter's edition of the legal and regulatory report, we include a number of key outputs from ESMA, including its updates to Q&As on the application of the AIFMD and the UCITS Directive (outlined at sections 1.2 and...more
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
1.1 ESMA UCITS Q&A updates On 20 July 2022, ESMA published an updated version of its UCITS Q&As with the following new Q&As: Section X: Depository – new Q&As 7 and 8 on reconciliations; and - • Section XIII: Delegation...more
29 January - The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (“ESAs”) (that is, the EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) published two consultation papers on the mapping of external credit assessment institutions' (“ECAIs”)...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - The European Commission Consults on New EU Competition Rules for Distribution Agreements - The Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and its accompanying Vertical Guidelines (VGL) are designed...more
30 June - The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that the deadline for solo-regulated firms to have undertaken the first assessment of the fitness and propriety of their Certified Persons will be delayed from 9...more
BROKER-DEALER - FINRA Issues Investor Alert Regarding Required Minimum Distributions - The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an Investor Alert regarding a new law raising the age for required...more
1 June - HM Treasury published a consultation paper (dated May 2019) on the regulation of pre-paid funeral plans. HM Treasury intends to bring all funeral plan providers within the remit of the FCA....more
U.S. DEVELOPMENTS - SEC and NYSE/Nasdaq Developments - SEC Proposes to Expand “Testing the Waters” Exemption to Permit Pre-Offering Communications - On 19 February 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission...more
FINANCIAL MARKETS - IOSCO Consults on Regulating Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms - On May 28, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published a consultation paper on regulating crypto-asset...more
BROKER-DEALER - Nasdaq Has Proposed a New Rule Change To Modify Its System of Volume-Based Credits - The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a proposed rule change to...more
1 February - The European Commission ("EC") launched the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum in order to highlight key developments of blockchain technology, promote and reinforce European engagement with multiple...more
BREXIT - EBA relocation to Paris - On 21 November, the Council of the EU published a press release announcing that the ministers of EU member states other than the UK have selected Paris as the new location of the EBA....more
CAPITAL MARKETS AND MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE - See Recovery and Resolution section for an update on CCP recovery and resolution. FCA makes available draft forms for benchmark administrators - On 6 July, as part of their...more
Background - The integrity of benchmarks used in financial transactions has been the subject of increasing focus from regulators since the investigations into manipulation of the setting of LIBOR, EURIBOR and other...more
On 8 March 2016, the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published their final draft regulatory technical standards in relation to the collateralisation of non-centrally cleared derivatives. The standards are to...more