New guidance for issuers and market participants on capital raising events and alternative working arrangements, and additional time allowed for filing half-yearly financial reports.
On 27 May 2020, the FCA published its...more
BEIS and FRC released further updates on how companies can hold meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 14 May 2020, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Financial Reporting Council...more
The package combines temporary policy interventions and existing options to help companies raise new share capital during the COVID-19 crisis.
On 8 April 2020, the FCA published a Statement of Policy and related technical...more
The FCA asks issuers to delay publishing their preliminary financial results due to COVID-19.
Key Points:
..The FCA is asking issuers to delay the publication of their preliminary financial accounts by at least two...more
UK regulators announce a further package of measures to ease the burden on issuers.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UK regulators have published further measures affecting issuers, to try to preserve the flow of...more
The FCA is moving towards formalising issuers’ compliance with the TCFD recommendations.
Key Points:
..The FCA is proposing that premium listed commercial companies will need to disclose how they have implemented the...more
The regulatory regime and disclosure requirements for listed companies in the UK will continue to evolve in 2020. Issuers and their advisers should be aware of the key legal developments that will occur during this year,...more
1/24/2020
/ Climate Change ,
Commission Delegated Regulation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Diversity ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU MAR) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Prospectus Regulation (PR3) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Shareholder Rights ,
Shareholders ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
Transparency ,
UK
New length restrictions will require issuers to focus on key information for investors.
Under the Prospectus Regulation, which comes into force on 21 July 2019 (See EU Prospectus Regulation: New Format and Content...more
Cornerstone investments can assist a firm’s overall exit objective, particularly when there are bidders for a portfolio company but no outright buyer.
Cornerstone investments, which involve taking a stake in an...more
The FCA found that three asset managers breached competition law by sharing information in relation to securities offerings.
Key Points:
..The decision gives market participants some helpful indications as to what kinds...more
The full regulation will come into force in July, imposing new requirements for prospectuses -
The new EU Prospectus Regulation will take full effect on 21 July 2019. Issuers and other parties to capital markets...more
The revised Code clarifies requirements for accountability, workforce engagement, and board diversity.
Key Points:
..The revised Code focuses on the application of flexible Principles on a “comply or explain”...more
The FCA has created a new category for sovereign controlled companies who will be eligible for premium listing if they comply with the requirements applicable to premium listed issuers, with some key exceptions.
Further to...more
The Financial Conduct Authority has published final rules creating a new category within its premium listing regime for companies controlled by a shareholder that is a sovereign country.
From 1 July, 2018, an issuer with a...more
Latham & Watkins recently advised the largest global music streaming subscription service in the world, Spotify, on its successful New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing using a novel direct listing process.
Spotify’s...more
Companies should conduct thorough due diligence in light of closer scrutiny from stakeholders and governmental and non-governmental bodies.
Companies are facing increasing pressure to report on environmental, social, and...more
3/13/2018
/ BEIS ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Financial Reporting ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Shareholder Activism ,
Shareholders ,
Stakeholder Engagement ,
UK
Special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, are companies that are incorporated for the purpose of making one or more strategic acquisitions. SPACs are also referred to as “blank check” companies or “cash shells”, which...more
Following our 7 November 2017 blog “Europe as a Hub for Initial Coin Offerings”, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published two statements on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). The statements underline...more
The new rules are designed to improve the availability of information during the UK IPO process.
Key Points:
..New rules will be introduced from 1 July 2018 to change the timing and sequencing of the availability of...more
Initial coin offerings (ICOs) involve issuers offering virtual coins or tokens that are created and disseminated using blockchain or distributed ledger technology. Virtual coins resemble cash in a number of ways but may also...more
On 13 July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposed a relaxation of certain aspects of the premium listing segment for sovereign-controlled companies.
The proposed new rules will create a new premium listing...more
A new prospectus regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) (the Regulation) will come into direct effect on 20 July 2017, with a small number of provisions applying immediately and the remainder applying from 21 July 2019. The...more
The FCA seeks to improve transparency in the UK equity IPO process.
The FCA is proposing significant reforms to the UK equity IPO process, in order to address its concerns that investors should be receiving better...more
Emerging companies remain under-represented on Europe’s capital markets despite the introduction of measures to make equity financing more accessible. This was the overarching takeaway from a recent one day summit at which...more
Key Points -
• Green Paper on Capital Markets Union (CMU Green Paper) and Consultation on Prospectus Directive Review (PD Consultation)
• Consultation Period runs until 13 May 2015
• Prospectus Directive...more