<p>Filter Knowledge</p>

On 9 August 2022, the FCA issued its latest portfolio letter (Letter) to alternative asset management firms setting out its supervisory priorities.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict, and rising inflation and interest rates have exacerbated a slowdown in the world economy. Many borrowers have availed themselves of low-cost debt in the decade since the financial crisis, and some may encounter challenges in servicing or refinancing this debt in a harsher economic climate.

On 19 July HM Treasury issued a report on the outcome of the UK Secondary Capital Raising Review (the "Review").

The UK Government has published its much anticipated Financial Services and Markets Bill (the Bill),  previously touted by the former Chancellor as "Big Bang 2.0". The Bill as introduced may or may not be that, but it certainly includes a large number of substantial measures that will effect a major overhaul of the UK's regulatory framework for financial services. 

Travers Smith LLP has advised Nest on its investment into a HarbourVest Partners fund, its second move into private equity this year.

Since the Supreme Court's rulings in Vedanta Resources Plc v Lungowe [2019] UKSC 20 ("Vedanta") and HRH Emere Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell [2021] UKSC 3 ("Okpabi"), much has been written about the potential impact these decisions may have on UK-domiciled businesses with foreign operations and, in particular, how they will assist claimants who wish to initiate large-scale group litigation. 

In AIC Ltd v Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria [2022] UKSC 16 the Supreme Court has re-stated the principles to be applied when a judge is asked to revisit a judgment or final order before it has been sealed by the Court, where there has been a change in relevant circumstances in the meantime. 

Travers Smith LLP has advised Storeshield Limited, a subsidiary of the BOC Group, on the sale of Gist to Marks & Spencer. Gist is a contract logistics business with approximately 5,800 employees across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Travers Smith LLP is advising O.C.S. Group Limited on the proposed sale of its facilities services business to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a leading global investment firm, under which funds managed by CD&R will acquire the entire share capital of OCS Group International Limited, the facilities services division ("OCS FS") of O.C.S.

Travers Smith is delighted to introduce its new diversity & inclusion campaign, Understanding Social Mobility – a series of activities aimed at ensuring careers in law, and in City law firms, are accessible to all, regardless of background or personal circumstances.

Since the Government introduced the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (the "Act") in March this year, there has been uncertainty as to how overseas entities (or those who deal with them) should prepare for the introduction of the new Overseas Entities Register (the "Register").  Some of those questions have now been answered, as we explain below.

The EU's Platform on Sustainable Finance ("PSF") – an expert group established to advise the European Commission – recently published a helpful draft report on so-called "minimum safeguards" ("MS") under sustainable finance legislation.  

On 25 May 2022 the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in Pfizer and Flynn v CMA [2022] UKSC 14, reinstating the Competition Appeal Tribunal's ("CAT's") decision to award Pfizer and Flynn costs arising from their successful appeal against the decision by the Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") which found that Pfizer and Flynn had abused their dominant position in relation to the supply of epilepsy medication.  

On 25 July 2022, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288, consisting of the Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), was published in the Official Journal.

The High Court has ruled that the UK Government's Net Zero Strategy breaches its obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008. The ruling took place on 18 July 2022, following a case brought by Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth (inter alia), who alleged that the Government failed to produce detailed climate policies to show how the UK’s legally binding carbon budgets will be met, in line with its obligations under the Climate Change Act.  

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

Travers Smith LLP is delighted to announce that it will be increasing its trainee intake to a maximum of 40 trainees per year. Numbers will increase in line with the September 2023 and March 2024 trainee intakes.

Travers Smith has advised longstanding client Inflexion on its investment in SteriPack Group, a market-leading global contract manufacturer serving the medical device, pharmaceutical and diagnostic markets.

^{This briefing was updated on 22 July 2022}

Travers Smith LLP has advised its long-standing client Ancala Partners LLP (Ancala), the critical mid-market infrastructure investor, on the proposed €136.2 million acquisition of aerial emergency services businesses from Babcock International Group plc (Babcock) in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Mozambique.