The FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) regime is the UK’s flagship ESG regime, set to apply from May 2024 onwards. The SDR is primarily a product labelling regime which is accompanied by entity-level disclosure requirements, new anti-greenwashing guidance and ESG marketing requirements.
This implementation guide provides a practical overview of the regime and key points for firms to consider when launching an SDR labelled fund and completing entity-level disclosures.
Greenwashing refers to the practice of making exaggerated, misleading or unsubstantiated claims in relation to the sustainability credentials of financial products and services. The risk of greenwashing claims has risen significantly in recent years, in tandem with investor demand for more sustainable investment products. This has been evidenced not only by well-publicized enforcement action both in Europe and the UK, but also by a flurry of recent claims by NGOs against financial institutions.
On 13 February 2024, the FCA issued a Final Notice to Floris Jakobus Huisamen, the former director and compliance officer of London Capital & Finance plc (LCF), fining him GBP 31,800 and banning him from working in financial services in relation to misconduct connected to financial promotions issued by LCF. This Final Notice follows the FCA’s previous censure of LCF in October 2023 for connected behaviour. In this alert we draw out the key takeaways that compliance officers should bear in mind from the FCA’s enforcement action.
On 13 February 2024, the FCA issued a Final Notice to Floris Jakobus Huisamen, the former director and compliance officer of London Capital & Finance plc (LCF), fining him GBP 31,800 and banning him from working in financial services in relation to misconduct connected to financial promotions issued by LCF. This Final Notice follows the FCA’s previous censure of LCF in October 2023 for connected behaviour. In this alert we draw out the key takeaways that compliance officers should bear in mind from the FCA’s enforcement action.
We are pleased to share with you our annual briefing looking at financial services regulation and enforcement in 2024, “What does 2024 hold? Key upcoming developments and enforcement trends”.
With Brexit and the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, and the geopolitical ebb-and-flow settling into a somewhat more stable – if preciously perched – pattern, regulators around the world have turned their attention to less reactive, more forward-looking actions. Our London Financial Institutions Regulatory and Enforcement experts explore the key developments and trends expected to dominate the regulatory landscape this year.
On 30 January 2024, the UK government announced its first equivalence decision in relation to the new overseas funds regime (OFR). The government has granted equivalence in respect of the pan-EEA UCITS regime, meaning that UCITS funds established in the EEA can be marketed to UK retail investors once the OFR becomes operational later this year. The FCA set out its proposals to operationalize the regime in December 2023.
Join us on 18 January 2024 as our Baker McKenzie experts – joined by Adam Jacobs Dean of AIMA and other industry specialists – explore the continuing evolution of ESG regulation and compliance challenges that firms can expect to encounter in the new year. This session will focus on the FCA’s new ESG product labelling regime (the “SDR”), upcoming changes to the EU’s SFDR regime, and emerging best practices in ESG governance.
Our London Financial Services Regulatory Group recently hosted a webinar where they discussed recent developments about the Mansion House Reforms presented by the Chancellor in July 2023 and what they mean for the industry. We are pleased to share with you a recording of this webinar, for the benefit of those who weren’t able to catch it.
On 11 October 2023, Ashley Alder, Chair of the FCA, delivered a speech on the FCA’s priorities for updating and improving the UK regulatory regime for asset managers. Covering a number of interesting angles, the speech sets out a sketch of the FCA’s vision for the UK asset management regime going forward, and includes some helpful clarity for the industry about the direction of regulatory reform. The speech highlights in particular the following priorities for reform: ensuring a more proportionate approach to the regulation of AIFMs; updating the retail funds regime; and supporting technological innovation in the sector.
On 11 October 2023, Ashley Alder, Chair of the FCA, delivered a speech on the FCA’s priorities for updating and improving the UK regulatory regime for asset managers. Covering a number of interesting angles, the speech sets out a sketch of the FCA’s vision for the UK asset management regime going forward, and includes some helpful clarity for the industry about the direction of regulatory reform. The speech highlights in particular the following priorities for reform: ensuring a more proportionate approach to the regulation of AIFMs; updating the retail funds regime; and supporting technological innovation in the sector.