On 13 August 2024, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), as part of a cross-regulatory group comprising the FCA, Companies House, HMRC and Charity Commission for England and Wales, published a discussion paper on the future...more
Enhanced SFO powers and promises of swifter action on economic crime underscore the importance of anti-fraud measures for corporates and M&A dealmakers.
The UK government is cracking down on corporates turning a blind eye...more
On 29 May 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a statement on good practices to be followed in relation to pre-close calls with research analysts. The calls take place immediately before the close...more
FCA Issues Reminders on Annual Reporting and LTIP Disclosure Requirements -
On 22 May 2024, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 49 (PMB 49) reminding listed companies of certain continuing obligations under the...more
6/5/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Bribery ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Incentive Plans ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Statements ,
Incentives ,
Listing Rules ,
Public Officials ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
UK ,
UK Bribery Act
While class actions are well established in the US, they are increasingly common in the UK, driven by market volatility, availability of litigation funding, legal reforms, regulatory settlements, and growing scrutiny of...more
5/29/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Class Action ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FSMA ,
Mergers ,
Opt-Outs ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Shareholder Litigation ,
Shareholders ,
UK
On 5 March 2024, the Pre-Emption Group (PEG) published its first report monitoring the use of its updated Statement of Principles on the disapplication of pre-emption rights for UK listed companies. The Principles were...more
4/5/2024
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Ethnicity ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
Information Reports ,
Listing Standards ,
Minorities ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
UK
On 23 February 2024, the Investment Association (IA) issued its annual letter to FTSE 350 remuneration committee chairs providing an update on the IA’s Principles of Remuneration and emerging views on remuneration matters....more
3/6/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Board of Directors ,
Capital Markets ,
Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Reporting ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Investors ,
London Stock Exchange ,
Pensions ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Remuneration ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
The UK market continues to prove a fertile hunting ground for shareholder activism, with US-based investors spearheading a significant proportion of public campaigns during 2023. These seasoned investors with a track record...more
1/12/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Best Practices ,
Corporate Governance ,
Investors ,
Mergers ,
Public Limited Companies (PLC) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholder Activism ,
Shareholders ,
Strategic Planning ,
Target Company ,
UK
Major Update on FRC Policy and Reset on Corporate Governance Reforms Plus CMIT Open Letter, With More to Come -
On 7 November 2023, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced a significant and wide-ranging policy...more
On 16 October 2023, Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, delivered a speech at the City Dinner at Mansion House which describes the FCA’s work in supporting international competitiveness and growth. Amongst other things,...more
11/2/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Green Finance ,
Listing Standards ,
Net Zero ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Takeover Bids ,
Takeovers ,
Target Company ,
UK
Companies Invited to Voluntarily Adopt New Nature-related Financial Disclosure Framework -
On 18 September 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) published its final recommendations for...more
10/3/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
IFRS ,
Listing Standards ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Risk Management ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK ,
Voluntary Disclosure
On 10 August 2023, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 45, which describes its process for developing its policy position in relation to the new ISSB standards and developing climate-related transition plan guidance for...more
9/5/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Code of Conduct ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Ratings ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
New Legislative Measures to Strengthen UK Corporate Reporting -
On 19 July 2023, the draft Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) Regulations were laid in Parliament....more
8/2/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Digital Securities ,
Draft Guidance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Information Reports ,
MiFID II ,
MTFs ,
New Regulations ,
Performance Reviews ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Research Tools ,
Trading Platforms ,
UK
This edition covers new global sustainability reporting standards, proposals to reform corporate criminal liability laws, the enactment of FSMA 2023, FRC guidance on dividend reporting, Investment Association guidance on...more
7/10/2023
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Liability ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSMA ,
IFRS ,
Market Abuse ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
Transparency ,
UK
This edition covers proposed major reforms to the listing and prospectus regimes, corporate governance reforms largely relating to audit and internal controls, and proposed changes to the Takeover Code affecting the...more
6/5/2023
/ Audits ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Listing Rules ,
Listing Standards ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Prospectus ,
Public Consultations ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
UK
This edition covers the FCA’s priorities for the next 12 months, the ICGN statement on post-pandemic AGM practices, Takeover Code changes affecting competitive bids, and a proposed new corporate “failure to prevent fraud”...more
5/2/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Internal Controls ,
Market Abuse ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Takeover Code ,
Takeovers ,
UK
This edition covers upcoming reforms to the UK listing regime, the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 44, the launch of a review into the UK investment research landscape, the PLSA’s 2023 Stewardship and Voting Guidelines, and...more
4/3/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
HM Treasury ,
Listing Standards ,
MiFID ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Research Reports ,
Shareholders ,
UK
This edition covers the new Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines and Shareholder Priorities for 2023, FRC publications on ESG and corporate governance, and the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 43....more
This first edition of 2023 covers recent guidance from the FCA’s Primary Market Bulletin 42 and Market Watch 71, major changes to the Takeover Code’s “acting in concert” presumptions, an FCA penalty for publishing misleading...more
Dealmakers should continue to weigh the impact of ESG issues on M&A deals as ESG standards evolve.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues have become increasingly important for corporates in recent years,...more
1/11/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Privacy ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Finance ,
Human Rights ,
IFRS ,
Indemnification Clauses ,
Mergers ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
Private Equity ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Representations and Warranties ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
UK
European PIPEs — which have experienced an uptick due to COVID-19-related market volatility — present unique structural, informational, and governance considerations for private equity investors.
European private...more
It is now apparent that no institution or business unit, whatever its geography, industry, sector, or size, is above the negative impact of a poor culture. Culture-related issues at Uber, Sports Direct, Boeing, and others...more
Sustainable finance and its surrounding infrastructure offers growing potential for deals and green innovation.
The global sustainable finance market has expanded rapidly in recent years, approaching US$320 billion in new...more
12/9/2019
/ Acquisitions ,
Asset Management ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Debt Market ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Bonds ,
Green Finance ,
Investment ,
Mergers ,
Private Equity ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
UK ,
United Nations
Companies previously considered immune from activist campaigns have come under pressure, driving new public and private deal opportunities for private equity.
US shareholder activists are an established presence in Europe....more
6/25/2019
/ Acquisitions ,
Complex Corporate Transactions ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
Financial Sponsors ,
Mergers ,
Private Equity ,
Privately Held Corporations ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholder Activism ,
Shareholders ,
Short Selling ,
UK
In recent years, China has taken significant steps in developing its environmental policy. In 2014, China’s Premier Li Keqiang declared a “war on pollution”, which began in earnest in 2017....more