On 12 January 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued Primary Market Bulletin 61 which focuses on the new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations (POATRs) regime which comes into force on 19 January 2026.

In Primary Market Bulletin 61 the FCA:

  • Provides feedback on its consultation in Primary Market Bulletin 58 and confirms that on 19 January 2026 it will finalise seven procedural notes, 39 technical notes and delete 7 guidance notes in its knowledge base.
  • Consults on proposed changes for the POATRs regime to one existing technical note (Sponsors: Record Keeping Requirements – Primary Market/TN/717.2).
  • Provides information on forthcoming changes to its helpdesk service for the Official List. From 2 March 2026, the opening hours of this helpdesk will be 8am to 10am and 3pm to 5pm. Opening for these hours ensures that immediate access to the helpdesk remains in place at critical periods at the beginning and end of each business day. Additionally, from 2 March 2026, this helpdesk will only be for matters relating to cases which are either due to be submitted or have already been submitted and where they relate to an admission, issuance programme, amendment, removal, routine suspension or restoration to the FCA’s Official List.
  • Highlights that it has removed the form for a sponsor’s written confirmation for an initial transaction announcement under UKLR 13.4.11R from the FCA website. This form was introduced on implementation of the UKLRs on 29 July 2024 for sponsors to provide their written confirmation under UKLR 13.4.11R, UKLR 13.4.15R or UKLR 13.4.19R(2). The FCA has considered further the format and process for receiving this written confirmation from sponsors. Instead of this form, the FCA will continue the practice under the former Listing Rule 5.6 to accept sponsor confirmations by email. The form has been removed from the FCA’s website. Sponsors should contact the primary market monitoring team directly either on the emergency line (020 7066 8354) or emailing pmosuspensions@fca.org.uk.