This issue is packed with interesting topics. I can only outline a few of the highlights: 

Let's begin: The 18th edition of KPMG's Cost of Capital Study has been published. The motto of this year's edition is "Unpredictability on the rise! - Interest rates too? What are the drivers, what are the consequences?". A total of 322 companies took part in the study, representing 65 per cent of the DAX 40 companies.

We also present a study that takes a look at the current status of the implementation of sustainability reporting in practice and the related questions regarding the allocation of responsibilities, data availability and quality and the degree of digitalisation.

Another article deals with the audit priorities of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for financial reports in 2023. We are preparing a detailed article on the audit priorities of ESMA and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) for the December issue.

On 16 August 2023, the government draft for the implementation of the Minimum Taxation Directive (Directive (EU) 2022/2523) was published. The government draft also provides for an amendment to the German Commercial Code before the end of this year.