Publication
Global rules on foreign direct investment (FDI)
Cross-border acquisitions and investments increasingly trigger foreign direct investment (FDI) screening requirements.
United Kingdom | Publication | April 2020
COVID-19 has impacted the lives of every individual across the country. It is critical that firms are able to continue to treat customers fairly during this challenging time and it is also more likely that customers will become vulnerable as the crisis unfolds meaning certain customers require greater support than others.
There have been various support packages announced by the Government along with associated guidance from the regulator to set expectations as to how this should be achieved in practice. It is possible that these expectations will evolve as the crisis unfolds, therefore firms will need to be agile over the coming period having regard to regulatory expectation and actual customer outcomes.
The Financial Conduct Authority has published various guidance for lenders, the key points of which are:
The guidance for mortgage lenders came into effect on 20 March 2020 and the regulator has committed to reviewing the impact it has had in three months and may issue amended guidance following this review.
The guidance for consumer credit lenders and in respect of overdrafts came into effect during April 2020.
We have summarised below the key forbearance guidance issued by the regulator across key lending products to date. The regulator has committed to reviewing the impact these have had over the next three months and further announcements may be made as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
In scope of guidance (as at April 17, 2020) | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Mortgages |
✓ |
|
Arranged overdrafts |
✓ |
|
Personal loans |
✓ |
|
Guarantor loans |
✓ |
|
Logbook loans |
✓ |
|
Regulated credit union loans |
✓ |
|
Regulated CDFI loans1 |
✓ |
|
Credit cards and store cards |
✓ |
|
Catalogue credit |
✓ | |
Home-collected credit |
✓ | |
Buy-now pay-later (BNPL) |
✓ |
|
Hire purchase (inc. motor finance) |
✓ |
|
High-cost short-term credit |
✓ |
|
Pawnbroking |
✓ |
|
Peer-to-peer |
x |
|
Premium finance | x |
Publication
Cross-border acquisitions and investments increasingly trigger foreign direct investment (FDI) screening requirements.
Publication
On February 2, 2024, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union confirmed that the Committee of Permanent Representatives had signed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation, referred to as the AI Act. Approval by the EU Parliament followed on 13 March 2024, and the AI Act is likely to appear in the EU’s Official Journal around May 2024. The AI Act aims to establish a stringent legal framework governing the development, marketing, and utilisation of artificial intelligence within the region, thereby marking a significant advancement in the regulation of this burgeoning domain.
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