Within the investment industry, sustainability is an area that has evolved significantly over the past few years. For infrastructure funds, the regulatory environment and regional differences have created a complex landscape...more
2024 was set to be the year of review for the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). A number of different approaches have been suggested by the European Commission, national competent authorities and other...more
Over the past few years, there has been a sharp increase in funds using environmental, social, governance (“ESG”), sustainability, impact or sustainable development goals (“SDG”) references in fund names. With this has come...more
On 24 July 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") published an opinion on the sustainable finance regulatory framework (the "ESMA Opinion"), which outlines the ESMA's long-term vision for the functioning...more
ESAs update consolidated Q&A with new guidance - The European Supervisory Authorities have updated their consolidated questions and answers (“Q&A”) on the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”) on 25 July 2024....more
On 18 June 2024, the European Supervisory Authorities (the “ESAs”) published a joint opinion (the “Opinion”) on their recommendations for the next iteration of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”)....more
For funds categorised as Article 8 or 9 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”) with a 31 December financial year end, the periodic reporting deadline of 30 June is approaching with 100 days to go. Now...more
ESMA has, on 14 December 2023, published a public statement updating its Guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms. This follows the consultation paper on the same topic that ran until 20 February...more
On 28 November 2023, the long-awaited UK regime for the labelling, marketing and disclosure of sustainable funds (Sustainability Disclosure Requirements or “SDR”) has been published in the Financial Conduct Authority’s...more
On 22 November 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published three aides to stakeholders to support with navigating three areas of the European Union’s (“EU”) sustainable finance regulation: ...more
The annual report of the European Supervisory Authorities (the “ESAs”) on the extent of voluntary disclosure of principal adverse impacts (“PAIs”) under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”) was published on...more
The Commission has launched a far reaching consultation and review of SFDR, long expected by the industry. This bulletin provides an overview, as well as giving thought as to what we might see in terms of SFDR 2.0....more
The main provisions of the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation have been in force since 2021, but compliance remains a challenge for many market participants. Here is an update on the state of play....more
The European Commission has published two consultation papers that seek views on the fundamental features and effectiveness of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The purpose of both the targeted and the...more
Over the last few months, the European Commission and the European Supervisory Authorities (“ESAs”) have published a number of press releases and reports that aim to clarify and provide further updates on concepts used within...more
The European Commission ("Commission") is relentless in its fight against Greenwashing and the misrepresentation of sustainability impacts or benefits of a company’s products or actions. Following the global ESG trend and the...more
Go to any private equity event in the last 12 months, and “energy transition” will have been discussed, meaning the shift in energy production away from fossil‑based systems to low or zero carbon ones. As fund managers...more
On 2 March 2023, the Central Bank of Ireland (the “Central Bank”) published its third annual Securities Markets Risk Outlook Report (the “Report”). The Report highlights the conduct risks that the Central Bank has identified...more
In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been active in providing guidance and publishing new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements. But the European community continues to...more
SFDR and Asset Allocators. The European Green Deal declared climate change and environmental degradation as existential threats to Europe and the world. The European Union (EU) has set out to mobilize private financial...more
1. Speed read - As the start date looms for the Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under SFDR and the product disclosure regime in the Taxonomy Regulation, firms are progressing their implementation projects. This...more
On 4 October 2022, the Central Bank of Ireland published a notice of intention with process clarifications for UCITS and AIFs pre-contractual documentation updates ahead of the implementation of the SFDR Level 2 requirements...more
There have been numerous positive developments in the evolution of ESG investing. Still, the research needed to assess which investments are truly ESG-compliant and which are tantamount to greenwashing is burdensome...more
Welcome to the UK Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation. Key developments in July 2022: ...more
On 25 July 2022, Commission Delegated Regulation ((EU) 2022/1288) (“SFDR RTS”) which supplements the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ((EU) 2019/2088) ("SFDR") and Regulation on the establishment of a framework to...more