On 11 March 2025, the UK’s financial regulators confirmed they have decided not to move forward with proposed diversity and inclusion (D&I) rules for financial firms. This decision in a letter by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and a letter by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) marks the end
Defence – A Sustainable Investment? A View From The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority
On 11 March 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) published a statement clarifying that their rules, including with regards to sustainability, do not prevent investment in or financing of defence companies. The FCA confirmed that it is at the discretion of investors or lenders as to whether they provide capital to defence
FCA’s Private Market Valuations Review – Good Practice but Room for Improvement
Background
On 5 March 2025, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published the findings of its multi-firm review of valuation processes for private market assets (the “Review”). The Review covered firms operating in range of private asset classes, including: venture capital, infrastructure (equity and debt), private equity and private debt.
Regulation Round Up
Welcome to the Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation.
Key developments in February 2025:
28 February
FCA Handbook Changes: The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published Handbook Notice 127, which sets out changes to the FCA Handbook made by the FCA board on
CSRD Slashed: EU’s Corporate Sustainability Regulations Significantly Reduced
On 26 February 2025, the European Commission (the “Commission”) adopted a new package of proposals to simplify the regulations on sustainability. Their aim is to combine the competitiveness and climate goals of the European Union, which we reported on here, as part of their aim for a “simpler and faster” Europe.
The proposals
Parked: The Extension of the UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements to Portfolio Managers
On 14 February 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) updated its webpage on consultation paper (CP24/8) on extending the sustainability disclosure requirements (“SDR”) and investment labelling regime to portfolio managers. In the update, the FCA confirmed that it no longer intends to do so and will continue to reflect on the feedback received and
Streamlining Sustainable Finance: Simplification of the EU Taxonomy
On 5 February 2025, the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (the ‘‘Platform’’) published a report with recommendations on how to simplify the EU Taxonomy (the ‘‘Report’’). The EU Taxonomy is the EU’s classification system for sustainable activities. The Report sets out key areas of improvement and simplification of taxonomy reporting by
Regulation Round Up
Welcome to the Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation.
Key developments in January 2025:
31 January
UK Listing Rules: The FCA published a consultation paper (CP25/2) on further changes to the public offers and admissions to trading regime and to the UK Listing Rules.
European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass – is it the roadmap for simplification of EU sustainability regulations?
On 29 January 2025, the European Commission published a communication on its Competitiveness Compass for the EU (COM(2025) 30). The Competitiveness Compass outlines the European Commission’s proposed initiatives for the next five years as part of its aim to support the EU’s competitiveness and to promote economic growth. In particular, the Competitiveness Compass
One week to go until HM Treasury’s UK Green Taxonomy Consultation closes
HM Treasury published the UK Green Taxonomy Consultation (the ‘‘Consultation’’) on 14 November 2024, and there is one week to go until the consultation window closes on 6 February 2025. The Consultation seeks views on the value of the UK government implementing a UK green taxonomy (the ‘‘Green Taxonomy’’) into its