European Union: Finance and Banking

The European Commission has released a comprehensive report outlining its reform agenda to address fragmentation in the EU banking market, simplify regulatory frameworks, and strengthen the international competitiveness...

The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive Communication addressing the structural challenges that limit EU banking sector competitiveness, proposing sweeping reforms to prudential regulation, cross-border integration, and regulatory complexity. With formal legislative proposals expected in Q1 2027, this initiative represents one of the most ambitious banking regulatory reform packages in recent EU history, fundamentally reshaping how banks operate across member states.

The statutory instrument transposing the Capital Requirements Directive (EU) 2024/1619 (“CRD VI”) into Irish law has been published.

Two key Level 2 measures implementing the Listing Act reforms to the EU Market Abuse Regulation were published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 16 July 2026. These delegated regulations address critical aspects of inside information disclosure, closed period trading permissions, and indicators of market manipulation, with practical implications for issuers and market participants across EU capital markets.

Defense IPOs are emerging as a viable exit strategy for investors in a sector where traditional trade sales face national security hurdles. Yet these public listings come with unique complexities—from managing classified information and export controls to navigating compliance gaps and a structurally narrower investor base shaped by ESG considerations.

This April 2026 edition of The CLOser newsletter provides comprehensive insights into the collateralized loan obligation market, featuring US and European market reviews, global listing updates...

Private equity execution has evolved beyond traditional buyout models, requiring sophisticated deal structures, flexible financing arrangements, and comprehensive due diligence across ESG, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risks. Success now depends on navigating complexity through adaptive strategies, cross-border expertise, and the ability to maintain momentum when conventional approaches no longer suffice.

In the Booking.com case, a court ruling is up for review by the Supreme Court for the second time.

Security buybacks are becoming increasingly popular by issuers of both equity and debt securities. Internationally, S&P 500 companies share buybacks amounted to nearly $1 trillion in 2024...

Partners Sarah Thompson and Rob Cain examine Article 21c of CRD IV as amended by CRD VI, exploring how new restrictions on third-country institutions providing core banking services into the EU will reshape cross-border operations. The discussion addresses implementation uncertainties, grandfathering deadlines, and strategic considerations for financial institutions navigating the January 2027 compliance horizon.

The EU's Capital Requirements Directive VI introduces Article 21c, fundamentally reshaping cross-border lending by non-EU banks to EU borrowers. With Ireland's grandfathering deadline of 11 July 2026 rapidly approaching...

The most common category of Irish Fund subject to the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”), and the fund most used by private capital sponsors, is the Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Fund (“QIAIF”). A QIAIF is subject to the Central Bank of Ireland’s (“CBI”) AIF Rulebook.