<p>Filter Knowledge</p>

The European Parliament has issued its draft report (Report) on the European Commission's proposals to amend the existing Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD II). The Report forms part of the legislative process and includes the European Parliament's suggested amendments to the draft directive issued by the European Commission in November 2021. The draft directive proposed a number of changes to the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, largely in respect of delegation, loan origination, liquidity risk management, data reporting and depositaries and it is those areas which are the main focus of the Report. 

On 13 May 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) submitted a number of questions to the European Commission relating to the interpretation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Taxonomy Regulation). Separately, the ESAs have also been asked by the European Commission for their input on possible amendments to the SFDR Delegated Regulation.

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

The Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") has released its Annual Business Plan for 2022/2023, alongside a Strategy Document for 2022 to 2025. We discuss below what these two documents mean for its investigations and enforcement strategy going forward.

Travers Smith LLP has advised Melior Equity Partners ("Melior") as lead counsel on the final close of Melior Equity Partners Fund II with €160m of total commitments, making it one of the largest private equity funds in Ireland.

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

Travers Smith LLP has advised Equistone Partners Europe Limited ("Equistone") and other selling shareholders on the sale of FirstPort, a leading UK residential property services company.

On 6 April 2022, the European Commission published the long-awaited final version of the detailed rules – the Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) – under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). 

Travers Smith LLP is advising UK wealth manager Brewin Dolphin Holdings plc ("Brewin Dolphin") on its recommended £1.6bn takeover by RBC Wealth Management ("RBC"), an indirect subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

In the fifth episode of the series, Knowledge Counsel Jonathan Rush looks at the impact of Brexit on UK law. 

On 28 February 2022, the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (the Platform) published its Final Report on a potential Social Taxonomy. This sets out the Platform's proposals for a structure for a social taxonomy under EU sustainability legislation.

Travers Smith LLP is delighted to announce new appointments to its Senior Counsel team, including three internal promotions and a new hire.

The Alpha and Omega of Regulation (via Omicron)?

Having said goodbye to another year of headlines dominated by COVID-19, with a Christmas and New Year overshadowed by a mixture of good and bad news about Omicron, it's not yet clear what degree of optimism about the year ahead is justified. At the very least, it is to be hoped that the World Health Organisation will not find it has to exhaust the Greek alphabet in naming any future new variants of concern.

On 17 December 2021, the FCA published two policy statements confirming final rules and guidance to promote improved climate-related financial disclosures. Such measures are aimed at helping to inform market pricing and support business decision-making, with the ultimate goal of assisting consumers in making more informed investment decisions.

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

On 26 November 2021 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published PS21/17: Implementation of Investment Firms Prudential Regime.

The regulatory technical standards supplementing the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (EU SFDR) have been delayed again by a further six months until 1 January 2023.

The European Commission has proposed changes to the AIFMD, UCITS Directive and the ELTIF regime in its long-awaited overhaul of the EU funds regimes.