Singapore: strengthening the listing and enforcement regimes - SGX consultation

The Singapore Exchange is seeking views on its proposals for the establishment of three new committees - the independent Listings Advisory, Listings Disciplinary and Listings Appeals Committees - as part of changes it is introducing to strengthen the listing and enforcement regime: see here (pdf).

Basel Committee to consult on revised principles for enhancing corporate governance

As part of a wider announcement concerning post-crisis reforms, the Bank for International Settlements has announced that the Basel Committee will soon publish for consultation a revised edition of its Principles for Enhancing Corporate Governance, published in 2010: see here.

UK: extending the regulation of financial benchmarks - consultation published

In June this year, the Government announced the formation of the Fair and Effective Markets Review. Yesterday, based on the review's first set of recommendations (available here, pdf), the Government launched a consultation on proposals to extend the regulatory regime recently introduced for LIBOR to other financial benchmarks: see here. Included with the consultation is a draft statutory instrument - The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. X) Order 2014 - a copy of which is available here (pdf).

UK: statutory audit services market - CMA publishes final Order - mandatory tendering of the statutory audit engagement

The Competition and Markets Authority has published, following consultation, the final Order that will implement the recommendations made by the Competition Commission (one of the bodies the CMA has replaced) in respect of the market for statutory audit services. A copy of the Statutory Audit Services for Large Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive Tender Processes and Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 2014 is available here (pdf). An explanatory note is available here (pdf).

The Order comes into force on 1 January 2015 and applies in relation to financial years beginning on or after this date. The Order requires, amongst other things, FTSE 350 companies to put the statutory audit services engagement out to tender every ten years or earlier. It also sets out the audit committee's responsibilities in this regard and also in respect of other areas including, for example, the influence exerted over the appointment of the audit engagement partner.

OECD: Public enforcement and corporate governance in Asia

Earlier this year the fourteen Asian jurisdictions represented at the Asian-OECD Roundtable on Corporate Governance endorsed the publication of a Guide to Public Enforcement and Corporate Governance in Asia. A copy of this guide is now available: see here (pdf).

UK: Law Commission recommendations on social investment by charities

The Law Commission for England and Wales has published recommendations, as part of its charity law project, in respect of social investment by charities: see here (pdf). A summary of the recommendations is available here (pdf). The Commission recommends, amongst other things, that a new statutory power should be created, conferring on charity trustees the power to make social investments (in doing so, the Commission's aim is to put the law beyond doubt).

USA: taxation - corporate inversion reforms published

The US Treasury has published reforms to reduce some of the tax advantages of so-called 'corporate inversions' (a transaction in which a US based multinational restructures so that its US parent is replaced by a foreign parent, in order to avoid taxes in the US). Further information is available here and here.

Singapore: Companies (Amendment) Bill introduced in Parliament

The Companies (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament earlier this month. A date for the second reading has not yet been set. A copy of the Bill is available here (pdf) and further information is available here.

UK: The Community Interest Company (Amendment) Regulations 2014

The Community Interest Company (Amendment) Regulations 2014 were made on 14 September and come into force on 1 October: see here or here (pdf). Their purpose is to remove, for community interest companies, the share dividend cap (as contained in the Community Interest Company Regulations 2005). Further information is available in the explanatory memorandum available here (pdf).

Australia: rectification of a company's constitution

The Supreme Court of New South Wales (Court of Appeal) gave judgment a couple of days ago in Wambo Coal Pty Ltd v Sumiseki Materials Co Ltd [2014] NSWCA 326. The decision is of interest for several reasons, including the court's discussion (and rejection) of the argument that it had jurisdiction to order rectification of a company's constitution.

Isle of Man: a call to update insolvency law

The High Court gave judgment several days ago in Munin Navigation v Petrodel: see here. The court held that it had the discretion to grant retrospection sanction for a liquidator to employ lawyers; in doing so the trial judge (His Honour Deemster Gough) called for the updating of insolvency law on the Isle of Man (at para 63):

"I proffer a general comment on the archaic statutory provisions and rules which govern insolvency in the Isle of Man. These provisions are out of date, confusing and much in need of revision to accommodate the type of business the Island presently conducts and hopes to attract as it moves forward in the 21st century. It has been said before, and bears repeating, that all those who have to deal with insolvency and winding up of companies in the Isle of Man, not least the Courts, would benefit greatly from an up-to-date revision of the law in these areas, such that the Island can better cater for modern commercial practice."

UK: FRC publishes new edition of the UK Corporate Governance Code

The Financial Reporting Council has today published a new edition of the UK Corporate Governance Code: see here. A copy of the new Code is available here (pdf). A feedback statement, providing further background to the changes introduced in the new Code, is available here (pdf).

UK: The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2014

The Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2014 was made on 12 September: see here. An explanatory note, setting out which provisions of the 2013 Act are brought into force by the Order, is available here.

UK: Takeover Panel proposes new framework for post-offer undertakings and intention statements

The Code Committee of the Takeover Panel has published a consultation paper in which it sets out proposed changes to the Takeover Code in order to create a new framework for post-offer undertakings and intention statements: see here (pdf).

India: governance norms - SEBI amendments to Clause 49 of the Equity Listing Agreement

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has published several amendments to Clause 49 of the Equity Listing Agreement (which sets out various corporate governance norms; a revised version was published earlier this year): see here (pdf). Amongst the amendments are those concerning the companies subject to Clause 49 as well as a delay in the provision requiring boards to have at least one female director.

Singapore: draft Companies (Amendment) Bill - update

The Ministry of Finance and Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority have completed their review of the feedback received during two rounds of consultation on the draft Companies (Amendment) Bill. A summary of the changes being made to the Bill following these consultations is available here (pdf). Summaries of the feedback received are available here, together with further background information.

UK: statutory audit services market - comments on CMA's draft Order

Earlier this year the Competition and Markets Authority published a draft of the Order that will implement the recommendations made by the Competition Commission (one of the bodies the CMA has replaced) in respect of the market for statutory audit services: see here (pdf). The Order covers audit tendering and audit committee responsibilities. Responses received in respect of the draft Order have now been published: see here.

Europe: Junker Commissioners designate announced

The Junker Commissioners designate have been announced: see here. The UK's nominee, Lord Hill, has been invited to become the Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union. His mission letter is available here (pdf) and his specific areas of responsibility are outlined here. The unit responsible for corporate governance and social responsibility has become part of the remit of Věra Jourová, the Commissioner designate for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. There is no mention of corporate governance in her mission letter (available here, pdf).

Europe: Commission consultation on the Small Business Act

The European Commission is seeing views on the revisions that should be made to the Small Business Act: see here. In the accompanying questionnaire, views are sought on suggested proposals within several categories including reducing the administrative burden; access to finance; and promoting market access for SMEs.

Europe: Commission consultation on cross-border mergers and divisions

The European Commission has begun a consultation on the EU legal framework for cross-border mergers and divisions: see here. The Commission is collecting information in order to assess the functioning of the framework and any potential need for changes in the current rules.

UK: supervising branches of the international banks - PRA policy and supervisory statements published

The Prudential Regulation Authority has published further information concerning its supervision of the branches of international banks. This is set out in a supervisory statement (here, pdf) and policy statement (here, pdf).

Europe: Q & A on the new statutory audit framework

The European Commission has published a series of questions and answers in respect of the new statutory audit framework (Directive 2014/56/EU and Regulation (EU) No 537/2014): see here (pdf).

USA: OCC publishes risk governance framework guidelines

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency yesterday published final guidelines to strengthen the governance and risk management practices of certain large financial institutions: see here (pdf). The guidelines provide that institutions should establish and adhere to a written risk governance framework to manage and control risk-taking activities; they also provide minimum standards regarding institutions’ boards of directors in respect of the oversight of the risk governance framework.

UK: the failure to prevent economic crimes - new corporate offence being considered

Today's Financial Times newspaper reports comments made by the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP, at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime. According to the report, the UK Government is considering the introduction of a new corporate offence, modelled on section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010: the failure to prevent economic crimes such as money laundering and fraud. The report is available here.

UK: Scotland: section 1032 of the Companies Act 2006 and restoration to the register

The operation of section 1032 ("Effect of court order for restoration to the register") of the Companies Act 2006 was considered by Sheriff Principal Scott QC last month in ELB Securities Ltd v Alan Love and Prestwick Hotels Ltd. 2014 SCGLA 46. The Sheriff Principal held that the effect of section 1032 was that not all matters reverted to the status quo pre-dissolution; he stated (para. [29]):

"For section 1032(1) to be construed such that it gives rise to an unqualified reversion to the status quo, one would require to ignore or treat as pro non scripto the preceding sections 1021 and 1022 along with the provisions of the succeeding section 1034. In this regard the maxim generalibus specialia derogant must, in my view, apply".

UK: BIS and FRC consult on accounting framework changes

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published a consultation paper in respect of the UK's implementation of chapters one to nine of the EU Accounting Directive 2013/34/EU: see here (pdf). The paper also seeks views on changes to the UK accounting regime in response to issues raised during the Company and Commercial Law Red Tape Challenge.

The Financial Reporting Council has also published a consultation paper, to accompany the BIS paper, concerning accounting standards for small entities: see here (pdf).