Web Summit 2025, held from 10 to 13 November in Lisbon, Portugal, convened global leaders in technology, investment, and innovation. The event drew more than 71,000 participants from 157 countries, including a record number of investors—a clear indication of renewed confidence in technology-led growth and cross-border deal-making.

Our team attended this flagship annual conference to gain first-hand insights and distil key takeaways on investor sentiment and IPO outlook within the technology sector—critical themes shaping capital markets and future deal flow.

As we step into 2026, the investment landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The convergence of private fund expansion, global regulatory evolution, and the operationalization 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:

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.

Law360 recently published a feature story from DFIN’s President of Global Capital Markets, Craig Clay, and Director of Corporate Governance Services, Ron Schneider, titled, It’s Proxy Season – Transforming How You Engage Shareholders and Activist Investors. 

Equilar recently released its annual “Preparing for Proxy Season” report, based on analysis of the proxy statements including CD&A’s of the Equilar 100 companies (the 100 largest US companies by revenues) from 2020 through 2024. DFIN was asked to provide independent commentary for the report, adding insight and advice to the numbers.

Key data in the report includes:

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.

March 14, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced a six-month extension of the compliance dates for amendments to the Investment Company Act “Names Rule,” which addresses fund names likely to mislead investors about a fund’s investments and risks. The compliance date for larger fund groups is extended from December 11, 2025, to June 11, 2026, and the compliance date for smaller fund groups is extended from June 11, 2026, to December 11, 2026.