Latest insights

Energy: geopolitics and economic security

The global energy landscape is entering a period of sustained uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic imbalances and accelerating technological shifts are reshaping markets at a pace and scale not seen in decades. Supply chains are being tested, regulatory frameworks are diverging, and energy is increasingly used as both a strategic asset and a source of vulnerability. For large international...

Risk-based value protection in PE firms

As private equity firms navigate increasingly complex digital landscapes, cyber security due diligence (DD) has evolved from an optional consideration to a critical component of deal evaluation. Neglecting it introduces substantial risk that could impact both immediate investment requirements and long-term returns and the most forward-thinking firms are building it into their standard processes and...

AI and the human factor in TMT

Technology, media and telecommunications companies are prepared for change and committed to artificial intelligence (AI) investment. They are also among the first to confront the strategic question of how to strike the right balance between humans and AI in the workplace.

Laying the right foundations for AI transformation

AI increasingly occupies a central role in digital transformation initiatives. For many companies, however, large-scale deployments are not yet a reality. Some are preparing to launch AI transformation projects. Others are adjusting their approach after initial experiments generated mixed results. How should organisations approach the opportunities created by a transformative technology?

Quarterly economic update for the FS

The second quarter of 2026 begins amid elevated geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The conflict in Iran, higher energy prices, evolving U.S. trade policy and emerging stresses in private credit markets are reshaping inflation expectations and growth prospects. Against this backdrop, the U.S. shows relative resilience, while Europe faces a more exposed and challenging outlook.

AMLA: a unified, data-driven AML/CFT framework

The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) has released its 2026-2028 work programme, marking the operational launch of Europe’s AML/CFT framework into a unified, data‑driven supervisory architecture. The programme strengthens systemic supervision, ensuring consistent risk assessment and supervision across the Union and in doing so, redefines supervisory expectations for European financial institutions.

PE investment in TMT

Balancing AI and cyber security in banking

Few sectors take cyber security as seriously as banking does. Financial institutions sit at the intersection of highly sensitive customer data, increasingly sophisticated attackers, legacy infrastructure and some of the most demanding regulatory environments globally. The result is a sector that has, by necessity, developed a mature, confident and structured approach to cyber risk.

Financial services tax digest : Q2 2026

Complying with the NIS2 directive

Alongside GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the ongoing adoption of the NIS2 (Network and Information Security) Directive into the national legislation of the various Member States requires affected operators to consider the organisational changes it entails. For companies to respond effectively, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and Data Protection Officers (DPOs) must pool their...

FS: a rise of digital assets

Digital assets are going mainstream. Faster, cheaper cross-border payments are on the horizon. Beyond this initial breakthrough, the potential exists for widespread transformation of financial services.

Valuation update: energy and infrastructure sector

Explore the latest valuation trends in the energy & infrastructure sector, with a spotlight on the role of terminal value. Our Q4 2025 update provides a snapshot of some of the main publicly available valuation trends across the energy & infrastructure sector, covering both debt and equity metrics.

Solvency II revision

The revision of Solvency II represents the most significant adjustment to Europe’s insurance prudential framework since its introduction. While designed to refine capital risk sensitivity within the European Union (EU), the reform will also influence how international insurance groups allocate capital, manage balance sheets and interact with multiple regulatory regimes.

Global innovation incentives and R&D tax relief

Economic conditions in 2026 remain unsettled, with recent market volatility adding to geopolitical tension and uneven global growth. In response, businesses are increasingly focused on identifying competitive advantages and creating options for expansion in a more constrained and unpredictable environment.

Cyber security and innovation in life sciences

The life sciences sector stands at a fascinating crossroads. On one hand, these organisations are at the forefront of progress, advancing technology and science with innovations like AI-driven drug discovery and targeted biologics. On the other, it is grappling with an expanding threat landscape that encompasses everything from state-sponsored attacks to supply chain vulnerabilities, just like other...

Understanding blockchain-related business risks

As a secure and transparent distributed ledger technology that underpins the growing use of digital assets, blockchain has an increasingly important role to play in business processes. However, as with any emerging technology, risks are inevitable, making it essential for companies to proactively identify and manage them.

Cyber resilience in insurance

The insurance industry occupies a unique position in the cyber security landscape, with access to sensitive policyholder data, responsibility for high-value claims and tight regulatory timelines, insurers face immense pressure to restore operations quickly following an attack.

Digital transformation of healthcare

Ageing populations, staff shortages and surging levels of chronic disease threaten healthcare sustainability. In advanced economies, the responses include some of the most ambitious digital transformation programmes of our era.

Accelerating transformation in startup investment

Amid the race to innovate, corporate venture capital is gaining traction and more large companies than ever before are investigating its potential.

Cyber security demands attention in manufacturing

The manufacturing sector faces a sobering reality in 2026: according to IBM, it has been the industry most at risk for cyber attacks for four consecutive years. Yet despite this distinction, cyber security often remains an afterthought in an industry racing to modernise its operations whilst managing razor-thin margins and complex global supply chains.

Optimising digital assets to support growth

As companies seek to unlock greater value, transforming digital assets through innovation and improved efficiency will play an increasingly critical role. Large financial services players and institutions are already exploring the technology to develop next-generation digital assets, products and services. As the market matures, companies and financial players of all sizes now need to ensure they...

Accelerating life sciences re-shoring in Europe

In Europe, re-shoring life sciences production became a key strategic goal for governments in the wake of Covid. However, not all of these initiatives have progressed as expected. A major new report from Forvis Mazars suggests new ways to create success stories across the continent.

Mentoring startups for transformation culture

How to run a startup mentoring programme that increases the success rate of digital transformation initiatives.

Applying VSME

The European landscape for sustainability reporting is undergoing profound changes as a result of the increase in mandatory reporting thresholds enacted by the recently adopted Omnibus I simplification package. Voluntary sustainability reporting for companies outside the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is thus...

Financial services tax digest - January 2026

ECB supervisory priorities 2026-2028

The ECB’s 2026–2028 priorities put the spotlight on banks’ ability to manage geopolitical shocks, digital and cyber risks and climate-related exposures. In parallel, the ECB is overhauling its supervisory framework to make supervision more efficient, focused and agile. Ensuring robust preparation to comply with the ECB’s supervisory priorities and paying close attention to simplification reforms will...

Top risks for financial services firms in 2026

As part of our annual series on top risks facing financial services firms, we have identified and ranked the key risks for financial services business leaders in 2026.

Uniswap: a centralised decentralised exchange

Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive (IRRD)

The EU Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive (IRRD) was published in the official Journal of the EU in late January 2025. It introduces a comprehensive new framework to ensure insurers can withstand or exit crises without jeopardising policyholders or financial stability. Modelled on the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), IRRD brings the same resilience logic to insurance. Firms...

Quarterly economic update for the FS

EBA’s environmental scenario analysis guidelines

ECB geopolitical risk reverse stress-tests

The ECB has confirmed that its 2026 thematic reverse stress test will focus on geopolitical risk. The test will explore how institution-specific geopolitical scenarios could lead to material capital and liquidity stress. This article outlines the rationale for the exercise and its key supervisory design features.

How sustainability reports shape technology sector

Analysis of the first reporting period of sustainability information by companies in the digital and technology sector highlights the positive improvements and the challenges faced in taking a standardised approach to sustainability reporting.

Private equity: turning tariff risk to opportunity

The latest round of U.S. tariff increases – covering everything from industrial machinery to consumer electronics – has rippled quickly through the private equity (PE) sector. Whilst firms are accustomed to navigating macroeconomic turbulence, current trade policy instability has introduced unprecedented challenges for many sectors, and PEs are feeling the squeeze now that hopes for a strong growth...

Applying VSME

SRB annual work programme 2026

On 26 November 2025, the Single Resolution Board (SRB) published its Annual work programme for 2026, setting out nine single resolution mechanism (SRM) key priorities that are directly linked to the SRB’s three strategic areas:

SRB interview: implementation of resolvability

Building resilience amid shifting trade policies

The imposition of changeable tariffs by the U.S. and the resulting counter-tariffs could have profound implications for the global public sector. Countries with strong trade ties to the U.S., such as China, the European Union and Mexico, may be particularly affected. These tariffs can lead to increased costs for imported goods, which in turn can strain public sector budgets and resources.

Omnibus I and ESRS simplification

On 3 December 2025, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) officially submitted its technical advice to the European Commission regarding the simplified draft of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). In a regulatory context where sustainability reporting is rapidly evolving, our experts have analysed it to highlight the main changes compared to the previous Set 1.

Recovering from fraud: strategies for resilience

When fraud strikes your organisation, the immediate aftermath can feel overwhelming. Financial losses mount, stakeholder confidence wavers, and urgent questions demand answers: What happened? Who was responsible? How do we recover?

Fraud prevention and digital transformation

Corporate fraud costs organisations billions annually. Every organisation will be impacted by fraud to some extent within the next few years. That's not pessimism; it's the reality facing businesses today. The question isn't whether fraud will or won’t target your organisation, but whether you'll detect it early enough to minimise its impact.

Valuation update: energy and infrastructure sector

Explore the latest valuation developments in the energy & infrastructure sector, with a Q3 2025 spotlight on battery energy storage systems (BESS). This update provides a snapshot of key publicly available valuation trends across the sector, covering both debt and equity markets, alongside a deeper dive into the evolving valuation dynamics of battery storage assets.

Building a culture of transformation

Large companies need to innovate. Start-ups need to scale. Corporate venture capital balances both sides of this equation. It also offers corporates access to the speed, creativity, and agility required to make digital transformation successful.

Technology prosperity

A major UK-U.S. bilateral agreement was formalised with the launch of the new Technology Prosperity Deal less than one month ago. Chief Economist George Lagarias and UK Executive member and Technology Consulting Partner Asam Malik outline this significant shift in approach from the UK and U.S. on technology, infrastructure and regulation, and share some of the resulting opportunities and competition...

Defining African expansion strategies in 2025

African companies today stand at a crossroads. On one hand, the continent boasts one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, rising urbanisation and untapped potential in sectors ranging from digital services to renewable energy. On the other hand, businesses across Africa face persistent and emerging challenges that hinder their ability to thrive in an increasingly volatile global economy.