As we step into 2026, the investment landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The convergence of private fund expansion, global regulatory evolution, and the operationalisation of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how firms operate, communicate, and compete. Investment companies are navigating a landscape shaped by the continued rapid rise of private funds, evolving global regulations, the SEC’s evolving opinion on crypto, the elimination or compliance delays of existing SEC regulations, and the accelerating adoption of AI.

On 28 October 2025, DFIN proudly partnered with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in Singapore to support the Asia Pacific Capital Markets Forum. This influential event brought together leading voices from Ashurst, Peel Hunt, and DFIN, alongside special guest Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi, to explore why London continues to be a compelling venue for Asia Pacific companies seeking global capital access.

Featured speakers:

Overview: UKSEF and the Future of Digital Financial Reporting in the UK

In 2025, the UK Single Electronic Format (UKSEF) is redefining how UK-listed companies prepare and submit their Annual Financial Reports (AFRs). As a localised extension of the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF), UKSEF aligns with FCA regulations while introducing enhanced tagging requirements tailored to UK-specific disclosures.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is reshaping how investment companies communicate with clients, stakeholders, and the broader public. More than a regulatory requirement, the EAA represents a shift toward inclusive digital engagement — one that opens doors to a broader investor base, strengthens brand integrity, and positions companies as leaders in responsible innovation.

As we enter the second half of 2025, the regulatory landscape for financial and sustainability reporting continues to evolve. For UK and EU-listed companies, the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) and its UK variant (UKSEF) remain central to annual reporting obligations. With updated taxonomies, growing ESG disclosure expectations, and increased scrutiny from regulators, now is the time for finance leaders to reassess their ESEF readiness.

AI is transforming finance by automating tasks, enhancing accuracy, and generating strategic insights. To fully harness AI's power, finance professionals must familiarize themselves with the technology itself and need to master effective prompting—crafting questions and instructions for optimal results.

This guide explores tools, techniques, and strategies to maximize AI's potential, enabling efficient, data-driven financial reporting.

What lies ahead for the global investment industry in 2025? From navigating the post-Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSR) world to charting new territories on AI — both alternative investments and artificial intelligence — to measuring the impact and influence of new global requirements, we can expect more change with greater momentum. In this article, Eric Johnson, DFIN’s president of Global Investment Companies, addresses the top questions facing fund and asset companies heading into 2025.

On June 5, 2024, a petition for review was filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As a result, this rule affecting Private Funds has been vacated. The final ruling was that the SEC had exceeded its statutory authority in adopting the Final Rule

DFIN CISO, Dannie Combs, talks with Katie Kuehner-Hebert of StrategicCIO360 about how IT professionals can best protect their organizations. 

In a Q&A, they discuss risk management strategies, how organizations can get better visibility into their data, why managing identities is such an important part of an organization’s cybersecurity strategy, and the latest data regulations companies need to be aware of.

In his new SecurityInfoWatch article, Craig Clay discusses the exponential growth in cyberthreats and how a partnership between the CEO and CISO holds the key to defeating those threats. Working together, they can master two essential components of an effective cybersecurity strategy, data management and risk mitigation, to defend the company’s critical assets.