As many in the superannuation and managed investments industries are well aware there has been a number of significant changes to the manner in which indirect costs will need to be calculated and disclosed in PDSs that are on issue after 1 January 2016 While parts of the industry are continuing to ...

The UKs regulatory authorities have imposed the largest ever fines in Europe for technology failures in the financial services industry following a serious IT incident affecting more than 65 million customers in the UK It should serve as a cautionary tale for Australian financial institutions ...

The Parliamentary Economics Committee released its report following its review into Australias four major banks yesterday Our Financial Services Regulation team has a look at the recommendations in this update ...

On 13 December 2016 Treasury released a paper seeking feedback on the proposed financial product design and distribution obligations and proposed product intervention powers for ASIC The proposals are intended to create new accountability obligations for product issuers and distributors On one view ...

An exposure draft of proposed legislative amendments designed to reduce the compliance burden for businesses has been released by the Federal Government The amendments include long-awaited changes to the dividend payment rules the abolition of the 100 member rule and updates to remuneration ...

As part of its implementation of the regulatory sandbox for fintech companies ASIC is providing relief for certain fintech businesses from the obligation to hold an Australian financial services or Australian credit licence Relief may be available for up to 12 months and may be useful to businesses ...

With the release of an ASFA Best Practice Paper on insourcing investment management we look at some of the challenges and opportunities for in-house legal teams that come with the seemingly inexorable move in the superannuation industry towards insourcing investment management functions ...

A director of a bank life company or general insurer who read APRAs recent information paper on risk culture could be excused for indulging in a wry smile Since mid-2015 he or she has been subject to legislative obligations concerning risk culture However the information paper suggests that APRA is ...

Criminal cartels unfair contract terms consumer guarantees and the health construction and agriculture sectors are some of the ACCCs key enforcement and compliance priorities for 2017 ACCC Chairman Rod Sims released the ACCCs 2017 Compliance and Enforcement Policy on Friday 24 February 2017 ...

Major changes to the merits review regime applying to regulated revenue and price determinations that the Australian Energy Regulator makes for electricity and gas networks have now come into operation Partner Grant Anderson reports ...