Australia: Financial Services

Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory change and economic volatility, Australian private M&A proved remarkably resilient in 2025. The return of the billion-dollar deal, sustained private capital deployment and an increased focus on deal certainty defined the market.

ASIC has now released its initial observations from the first wave of sustainability reports for December year-end entities. The purpose of this release was to provide practical guidance to companies and their advisers as they prepare for the upcoming June reporting cycle.

A company is facing a winding up application. The hearing date is approaching. Days before the hearing, voluntary administrators are appointed and the Court is asked to adjourn. For years, that strategy often bought time. Increasingly, it does not.

The Unique Product Identifier (UPI) serves as a critical component of common data elements under EMIR, UK EMIR, ASIC, and MAS regulations, designed to identify OTC derivative products in transaction reporting. This article explores how UPIs work alongside Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) and examines the role of ANNA-DSB as the centralized service provider managing the UPI Reference Data Library. Understanding the methods for obtaining and creating UPIs is essential for firms navigating derivative transactio

The first half of calendar year 2026 represented a cautious six months for IPOs on ASX, amidst the background of geopolitical tensions and significant divergence between sectors.

ASX Listing Rule 7.1 generally restricts an ASX-listed entity from issuing more than 15% of its issued capital in a 12 month period without shareholder approval, other than in accordance with exceptions set out in Listing Rule 7.2.

The ACCC’s FAQ guidance released on 22 June 2026 sets out its expectations for the disclosure by private equity funds in applying for notification waivers under the new mandatory notification merger regime.

The laws introducing the new Australian financial services licence (AFSL) exemptions for foreign financial service providers (FFSPs) have received Royal Assent and will commence on 8 April 2027.

TRAction’s trade reporting solution is now seamlessly integrated with TraderEvolution’s technology, enabling firms to support advanced transaction reporting requirements across Europe and the UK.