The UK Secondary Capital Raising Review has made a number of recommendations which, when implemented, will make secondary fundraisings by companies admitted to the Official List significantly quicker, cheaper and easier. The Review seeks to be “bold and brave” and indeed, it is.… Continue Reading
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published amendments to the Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules which implement mandatory board and executive management-level diversity and inclusion reporting.… Continue Reading
The Financial Reporting Council’s ambitious UK Stewardship Code 2020, effective 1 January 2020, required a new mandatory annual Stewardship Report to be published. This is challenging for investors as it requires reporting on stewardship activities actually undertaken and the outcomes actually achieved, not just stating intent or policy.… Continue Reading
The 2020 AGM season is upon us at a time of the fast escalating coronavirus pandemic. This briefing looks at the implications of coronavirus on AGMs. Public companies must hold an AGM within six months of their financial year end. By their very nature, AGMs entail people travelling to gather in one place. This raises … Continue Reading
On 4 November 2019, in the looming shadow of the collapse of Thomas Cook Group plc (“Thomas Cook”), the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (“BEIS”) Committee published a letter of recommendations to the Secretary of State for the Department of BEIS, Andrea Leadsom. The letter follows BEIS’ inquiry into the collapse of Thomas Cook and … Continue Reading
The draft Companies (Directors’ Remuneration Policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report) Regulations 2019 (Draft Regulations) have been published as part of the drive to encourage long-term shareholder engagement and to strengthen the governance and performance of traded companies. The Draft Regulations implement the following articles of the Shareholder Rights Directive II (2017/36/EU), which must be transposed into national … Continue Reading
The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), being the leading international policy forum for securities regulators which focuses on the quality of financial reports and good corporate governance, has published a report on good practices for audit committees of listed companies in supporting external audit quality. The report focuses on the importance of ensuring the quality of a company’s … Continue Reading
