Market Standards weekly highlights

Our Market Standards weekly highlights newsletter focuses on market activity and issues relevant to Corporate public company transactions. It contains all relevant news updates that have been published throughout the week, a summary of

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Latest Corporate News

FRC launches five consultations on audit and reporting standards

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched five consultations seeking stakeholder feedback on audit and reporting standards. The consultations cover: (1) a new Practice Note for auditing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); (2) emerging findings from the FRC's SME audit market study; (3) draft amendments to the UK's Public Interest Entity (PIE) Auditor Registration Regulations; (4) limited scope amendments to FRS 102; and (5) the draft 2026 Taxonomy Suite.

Corporate weekly highlights—17 July 2025

This week's edition of Corporate weekly highlights includes news of two new policy statements published by the FCA setting out the final rules to implement the new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 and the final rules for the new public offer platform regime. It also covers amendments to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards for certain companies, the FCA’s annual report and accounts for 2024/25 and the removal of the unclaimed estates list from the government website by the Bona Vacantia division.

FCA issues Primary Market Bulletin 56

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued Primary Market Bulletin 56. The bulletin outlines the FCA’s use of transaction and position data to monitor compliance with reporting obligations under the UK Market Abuse Regulation (UK MAR), including directors’ dealings. It highlights enforcement action taken against a former Person Discharging Managerial Responsibilities (PDMR) at Wizz Air Holdings Plc, who failed to notify 115 transactions, including trades during closed periods, resulting in a £123,500 fine. The bulletin also reminds issuers of the upcoming expiry on 29 July 2025 of transitional provisions under the UK Listing Rules (UKLR), including those for inflight applicants and shell companies and the need to ensure compliance with eligibility and operational requirements. Issuers are also reminded to provide up-to-date contact details as required. In addition, the FCA has announced plans to enhance the National Storage Mechanism and launched a user survey to support improvements to data accessibility.

Insolvency Service launches five-year strategy to combat economic crime

The Insolvency Service has launched its investigation and enforcement strategy for 2026–31, significantly expanding its role in tackling economic crime. The strategy outlines three core objectives: enforcement of the UK insolvency framework, Companies Act 1985 enforcement and addressing company-facilitated economic crime. The Insolvency Service will implement artificial intelligence and advanced analytics while expanding its cryptoasset expertise to combat money laundering and sophisticated financial wrongdoing. The Service's recent performance demonstrates its effectiveness, with 77 criminal convictions, over 1,000 director disqualifications, and £4m in compensation secured in 2024–25.