Financial Services

Background

The Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) published its Policy Statement “Review of Solvency II: Reform of the Matching Adjustment” (PS10/24) and the associated finalised rules and guidance[1] on 6 June 2024. This followed the publication of the PRA’s consultation paper in September 2023 and the enactment of The Insurance and

Background

February was an important month in Hong Kong’s journey towards regulating the digital asset ecosystem and positioning itself as a leading innovation hub.  

On 20 February 2024, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published comprehensive guidance on the provision of digital asset custody services (Custodial Services Circular) and the sale

On 8 February 2023, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) launched a consultation on legislative proposals to introduce a licensing regime to regulate providers of over the counter (OTC) trading services for virtual assets (VAs) (the Consultation).  The proposed licensing regime will be introduced by amending

On 15 February 2024, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten, the AFM) has confirmed that market participants will be able to submit an application for a CASP licence or notification to the AFM as of 22 April 2024. If approved, the licences or notifications will take effect from

Background

On 22 December 2023, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued an updated joint circular on intermediaries’ virtual asset-related activities (Joint Circular) with appendices.  The Joint Circular supersedes the previous joint circular of 20 October 2023 (October Joint

Introduction

As anticipated in our previous horizon scan (see here), the end of 2023 has brought about significant developments in financial crime enforcement and a real focus on fraud. Looking ahead to 2024, we predict that developments affecting organisations doing business in the UK will include:

  1. a focus from organisations on fraud, in particular

Introduction

As anticipated in our previous horizon scan (see here), the end of 2023 has brought about significant developments in financial crime enforcement and a real focus on fraud. Looking ahead to 2024, we predict that developments affecting organisations doing business in the UK will include:

  1. a focus from organisations on fraud, in particular

Following the enactment of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) last month, the UK Government has proposed in the Criminal Justice Bill (CJB) (here) to extend the scope of corporate liability for senior managers beyond certain economic offences to all UK criminal offences.

Reform of economic

Following the enactment of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) last month, the UK Government has proposed in the Criminal Justice Bill (CJB) (here) to extend the scope of corporate liability for senior managers beyond certain economic offences to all UK criminal offences.

Reform of economic

Introduction

Following the unprecedented levels of sanctions activity in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in companies dealing with the most significant and complex sanctions regimes across multiple jurisdictions, authorities in the US, UK and EU are now turning their attention to enforcement of those sanctions.

Sanctions authorities have indicated that they