Tag:ASIC

1
Australia: ASIC Extends Transitional Relief For Foreign Financial Service Providers
2
Australia: Financial Accountability Regime: Not That FAR Away
3
Australia: “Greenwashing” – Are the ACCC and ASIC Aligned?
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Australia: ASIC Chair Addresses “Greenhushing” Amongst ESG Focus Areas
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Australia: ASIC Releases Report on Recent Greenwashing Actions
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Australia: ASIC Revises its IDR Reporting Framework. Are You Ready?
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Australia: ASIC Reports on DDO Compliance by Investment Product Issuers
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Australia: Ongoing Regulatory Requirements for Issuers Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Scheme
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Australia: Greenwashing Crackdown – ASIC Sues Superannuation Giant in Landmark Case
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Australia: Quality of Advice Report to be Stress Tested

Australia: ASIC Extends Transitional Relief For Foreign Financial Service Providers

By: Rebecca Mangos and Lisa Lautier

The Australian Investments and Securities Commission (ASIC) announced that it has further extended relief for foreign financial services providers (FFSPs) from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence (AFSL) when providing financial services to Australian wholesale clients.

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Australia: Financial Accountability Regime: Not That FAR Away

By Jim Bulling and Ben Kneebush

On 8 March 2023, the Government introduced the long-awaited Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023 and Financial Accountability Regime (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 (collectively, the Bills) into Parliament. These propose to establish the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR), a strengthened responsibility and accountability framework that replaces the existing Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR).

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Australia: “Greenwashing” – Are the ACCC and ASIC Aligned?

By Jim Bulling and Ben Kneebush

‘Greenwashing’ has been a priority for both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for some time now.

ASIC’s approach to ‘greenwashing’ first emerged over a year ago with the publication of Information Sheet 271 (considered previously in our post), and was expanded with the release of Report 763 (considered previously in our post).

On 14 July 2023, the ACCC released its long-awaited draft guidance titled Environmental and Sustainability Claims – Draft Guidance for Business. The aim of this was to aid businesses in avoiding ‘greenwashing’ when making environmental or sustainability claims.

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Australia: ASIC Chair Addresses “Greenhushing” Amongst ESG Focus Areas

By Jim Bulling and Grace Hall

The Chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Joe Longo, commented on three key ESG focus areas of the regulator in recent speeches.

In addition to governance, greenwashing and growth in sustainable financing, the Chair discussed the phenomenon of “greenhushing”, where companies decline to make any voluntary climate-related disclosures.

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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.

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Australia: ASIC Revises its IDR Reporting Framework. Are You Ready?

By Daniel Knight and Hugo Chow

All holders of an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) with a retail client authorisation will need to comply with ASIC’s internal dispute resolution (IDR) reporting framework. Summary reports will need to be provided to ASIC on a 6 monthly basis, highlighting the status of each client complaint. Reporting obligations commence from 1 July 2023 (for reporting in January or February 2024). AFSL holders should put systems in place now to ensure all required information is being captured.

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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.

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Australia: Ongoing Regulatory Requirements for Issuers Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Scheme

By Lisa Lautier and Alexander Lalor

The formal warning recently issued by the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to Vanguard Investments Australia Limited (Vanguard Australia) on 29 March 2023 provides a timely reminder of the ongoing notifications requirements applicable to New Zealand and Australian financial product issuers relying on the trans-Tasman mutual recognition scheme (TMRS).

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Australia: Greenwashing Crackdown – ASIC Sues Superannuation Giant in Landmark Case

By Matthew Watts, Rebecca Mangos and Bernard Sia

For the first time, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has launched court action against a major superannuation trustee for allegedly making misleading statements about the sustainable nature and characteristics of some of its investment products (known as “greenwashing”). ASIC claims the corporate pension fund misled consumers by investing in companies involved with the alcohol, gambling and fossil fuel sectors, contrary to the fund’s marketed sustainable and ethical credentials.

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Australia: Quality of Advice Report to be Stress Tested

By Jim Bulling, Anabelle Weinberg and Oliver Herrmann

The Australian Government has released Michelle Levy’s Quality of Advice Review Final Report (Final Report) after a year-long consultation process that includes 22 recommendations across 13 areas to improve the regulatory framework of financial advice.

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