FCA outlines its updated approach to alternative asset management supervision

09 September, 2022
In a "Dear CEO" letter sent in early August 2022, the FCA outlined the robust approach it will take to the supervision of firms in its alternative asset management portfolio – namely FCA authorised hedge funds, private equity firms and firms that manage and advise alternative assets directly. Relevant firms can expect the FCA to focus on excessive investment risks to retail and elective professional investors, conflicts of interest, inadequate mitigation against ongoing market disruption, poor market abuse controls, and culture, as well as ESG disclosures. Read more

A new regime for critical third party providers to UK financial services firms is on the horizon

15 August, 2022
On 21 July 2022 the Bank of England, the PRA and the FCA published Discussion Paper 22/3 - Operational resilience: Critical third parties to the UK financial sector (DP22/3). DP22/3 sets out how the financial services regulators could use new powers proposed under the Financial Services and Markets Bill (FSM Bill) to assess and strengthen the resilience of material services provided by critical third parties to the UK financial services sector. Publication of DP22/3 marks an early step on the road to the introduction of a new designation regime for third party providers in respect of the material services they provide to the financial services sector. Read more

Webinar: Panel discussion – New Hong Kong licensing regime for VASPs

12 August, 2022
The new licensing regime for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) will significantly impact the virtual asset industry in Hong Kong. Once in force, any person who seeks to carry on a business of providing a virtual asset service (currently limited to operating a virtual asset exchange) will be required to apply to the SFC for a licence.  On Tuesday, 23 August 2022 from 1pm to 2pm (Hong Kong/Singapore time), our Asia Financial Services Regulatory Partners, Hannah Cassidy and Natalie Curtis, will be joined by Prosynergy Consulting Limited’s Managing Director, Louie Lee, ARTA TechFin Corporation Limited’s CEO (Blockchain Finance), Simon Au Yeung, and MaiCapital Limited's Managing Partner, Marco Lim, to discuss the new VASP licensing regime. Read more

FCA publishes policy statement on improvements to the Appointed Representative regime

12 August, 2022
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has this month published its policy statement (PS22/11) confirming its final rules reshaping the Appointed Representative (AR) regime to make authorised financial firms acting as principal more responsible for their ARs. The FCA had previously set out its proposals and invited feedback in a consultation paper (CP21/34) in December 2021. In seeking to address harms and protect consumers, these proposals focused on: (i) collecting additional information on ARs and strengthening reporting requirements for principals; and (ii) clarifying and strengthening the responsibilities and expectations of principals. Read more