Category:Pensions and Retirement Funds

1
Hong Kong Backs Industry-led Voluntary Code for ESG Ratings and Data Products Providers
2
Australia: Mandatory Climate Reporting – The Draft Australian Standards are Here!
3
Hong Kong Proposes Guidelines for Market Soundings
4
The SEC’s New Rules for Private Fund Advisers: A Dose of Transparency for the Private Markets
5
ICYMI: Integrity Council Launches Global Benchmark and Core Carbon Principles for Voluntary Carbon Markets
6
United States: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore: The SEC Proposes Rules for the Use of Predictive Data Analytics by Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers
7
United States: SEC’s Stunning Enforcement Actions Against Binance and Coinbase
8
Australia: Preparing for the Extension of the Superannuation Performance Test to Trustee-Directed Products
9
Australia: ASIC Releases Report on Recent Greenwashing Actions
10
Australia: ASIC Reports on DDO Compliance by Investment Product Issuers

Hong Kong Backs Industry-led Voluntary Code for ESG Ratings and Data Products Providers

By: Carolyn Sng and Sook Young Yeu

The Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong (SFC) has announced its support for the development of a voluntary code of conduct (VCoC) for ESG ratings and data products providers. The proposed VCoC, which will be open for ESG ratings and data products providers to sign up voluntarily, and will align with international best practices as recommended by the International Organization of Securities Commissions.

Read More

Australia: Mandatory Climate Reporting – The Draft Australian Standards are Here!

By: Jim Bulling, Lisa Lautier and Ben Kneebush

On 23 October 2023, the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) released the long-awaited Exposure Draft outlining the Australian climate-related reporting standards.

Read More

Hong Kong Proposes Guidelines for Market Soundings

By: Carolyn Sng and Tan Choo Lye

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong is consulting on new guidelines to regulate market soundings in advance of transactions such as private placements and block trades. Market soundings are the communication of non-public information (whether price-sensitive or not) with potential investors prior to the announcement of the transaction to gauge investor interest or assist in determining the specifications of the potential transaction. It can be an integral part of price discovery, but the process may be open to abuse if parties trade on the back of non-public information obtained.

Read More

The SEC’s New Rules for Private Fund Advisers: A Dose of Transparency for the Private Markets

By: Ken Holston, TJ Bright, Pablo Man, Matthew Mangan, Chris Phillips-Hart, Annabelle North

On August 23, 2023, the SEC adopted sweeping new rules that will impose substantial regulation on the management and operation of private funds by investment advisers.  The rules appear to be somewhat less burdensome than the rules originally proposed in February 2022.  

Read More

ICYMI: Integrity Council Launches Global Benchmark and Core Carbon Principles for Voluntary Carbon Markets

By: Cheryl Isaac and Christine Mikhael

In case you missed it: late last month, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (“ICVCM”) launched its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and Program-level Assessment Framework (Framework). With the publication of these new standards (developed with the input of hundreds of stakeholders in the voluntary carbon markets), we now have a set of fundamental principles for high-quality credits that create a verifiable climate impact, and a framework for determining whether carbon credit programs are eligible to label themselves as being in compliance with the CCPs.

Read More

United States: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore: The SEC Proposes Rules for the Use of Predictive Data Analytics by Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers

By: Richard Kerr and Matthew Rogers

On July 26, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed new rules (“Proposal”) intended to address certain conflicts of interests associated with the use of “Covered Technology” (defined below) by broker-dealers and investment advisers (“firms”) in investor interactions. If adopted as proposed, firms will be required to (i) identify conflicts of interests when using Covered Technology in interactions with investors, and (ii) adopt policies and procedures to eliminate or neutralize those conflicts of interests.

Read More

United States: SEC’s Stunning Enforcement Actions Against Binance and Coinbase

By Rich Kerr, Eden Rohrer, and Max Black

In a stunning move, over the last two days, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed back-to-back enforcement actions against major crypto exchanges Binance (See here) and Coinbase (See here). This clearly indicates that the SEC is flexing its enforcement power over both international exchanges as well as those exchanges with a focus on the United States. Please visit the K&L Gates Fintech and Blockchain Law Watch to see commentary about these developments from our Digital Assets team.

Australia: Preparing for the Extension of the Superannuation Performance Test to Trustee-Directed Products

By Jim Bulling and Grace Hall

The release of draft regulations by the Australian Government and publications by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) provide further guidance to regulated superannuation funds on how annual performance assessments (the performance test) will apply to trustee-directed products.

Read More

Australia: ASIC Releases Report on Recent Greenwashing Actions

By Matthew Watts and Rebecca Mangos

The Australia Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has published a report on its regulatory interventions made between 1 July 2022 and 31 March 2023 in relation to greenwashing concerns (which can be accessed here). The report covers ASIC’s issuance of greenwashing infringement notices during the period and its observed increase in representations made by listed companies, managed funds and superannuation funds on environmental, social and governance credentials.

Read More

Australia: ASIC Reports on DDO Compliance by Investment Product Issuers

By Kane Barnett and Bernard Sia

On 3 May 2023 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its review on compliance by investment product issuers of the Design and Distribution Obligations (DDOs). In ASIC’s view, there is still considerable room for improvement by product issuers.

Read More

Copyright © 2025, K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.