Publication
M&A hub: Developments driving and shaping M&A
Key legal and regulatory developments driving and shaping M&A
Essential Corporate News: Week ending 29 September 2023
United Kingdom | Publication | September 2023
FCA and PRA: Consultation papers on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector published
On 25 September 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published consultations setting out their proposals to introduce a new regulatory framework on diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the financial sector. The FCA’s consultation paper, CP23/20, is on D&I in the financial sector – ‘working together to drive change’, and the PRA’s consultation, CP18/23, is on D&I in PRA-regulated firms.
For further information, see our Regulation Tomorrow blog post.
UKEB: Reports following Climate-related Matters Research Project
On 15 September 2023 the UK Endorsements Board (UKEB) published two reports arising from its Climate-related Matters Research Project. The evidence gathered for these reports will help the UKEB obtain insight into UK companies’ existing experience of reporting on climate-related matters and the connectivity between sustainability reporting and financial reporting in this respect.
The two reports are as follows:
- The ‘Climate-Related Matters: Summary of Connectivity Research’ which provides an overview of recent third-party research into connectivity challenges between Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (described as a proxy for the disclosures required by IFRS S2) and the financial statements.
- ‘A Study in Connectivity: Analysis of 2022 UK Company Annual Reports’ which provides a deep-dive analysis from an investor’s perspective of potential connectivity challenges and includes stakeholder feedback on possible causes.
A desktop review of 24 recent research reports and articles commenting on climate-related risks and their connections with financial statements indicated three broad themes. In order of prevalence, these were:
- Connectivity: the level of connectivity between climate-related narrative disclosures and the disclosures in the financial statements.
- Occurrence and quality: an increase in the frequency but not quality of climate-related disclosures.
- Estimates and judgements: a lack of transparency regarding the use or impact of climate-related matters in the estimates and judgements used to prepare financial statements.
These are discussed in more detail in the reports.
This issue
Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities, Europe, Middle East and Asia
Email
raj.karia@nortonrosefulbright.com
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