Zimbabwe: public comments invited on the Public Entities Corporate Governance Bill

The Public Entities Corporate Governance Bill was gazetted by the Clerk of Parliament on 21 July and public comments are now invited. A copy of the invitation, and draft Bill, are available here. The first schedule of the Bill reproduces the National Code on Corporate Governance (known as Zimcode).

UK: FRC report - developments in audit 2016/17

The Financial Reporting Council has published the 2016/17 edition of its annual audit developments report. A copy of the full report is available here (pdf) and a summary is available here (pdf). The report notes that the FRC issued more than £14.2 million of sanctions on auditors and audit firms in 2016/17. These sanctions, and the rest of the FRC's work, demonstrate the importance of auditors' professional scepticism and their ability to sufficiently challenge management in an independent and objective way.

UK: the future of LIBOR

Andrew Bailey, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, delivered a speech today titled 'The future of LIBOR': see here. The speech makes clear that the FCA's support for LIBOR will continue until the end of 2021 but planning should begin now for the transition to alternative reference rates that are based firmly on transactions.

UK: extending the Senior Managers and Certification Regime

The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority have today published proposals to extend the reach of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime: see, respectively, here and here. The FCA's proposals will mean that the Regime will apply to almost all regulated firms; the PRA's proposals will extend the regime to all insurers.

Burma: Companies Bill introduced in the Amyotha Hluttaw

The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration has published the latest version of the Companies Bill. The Bill will introduce a new company law framework in Burma. A copy of the Bill, in English, is available here (pdf). It has been reported that the Bill has begun its legislative journey following its introduction in the Amyotha Hluttaw: see here.

UK: implementing the new framework for insurance special purpose vehicles

Last November HM Treasury published for public comment the Regulations that will introduce the new regulatory and tax framework for insurance special purpose vehicles (ISPVs), also known as insurance linked securities vehicles. The comments have been considered and HM Treasury's response was published earlier this month: see here (pdf). Final Regulations (subject to Parliamentary approval) have also been published: see the Risk Transformation Regulations 2017 (pdf) and the Risk Transformation (Tax) Regulations 2017 (pdf). The Prudential Regulation Authority has also published an update on its related consultation concerning the authorisation and supervision of ISPVs: see here (pdf).

HM Treasury have decided that a protected cell company structure should be provided for multi-arrangement ISPVs. The duties of directors of protected cell companies will largely be the same as for directors under the Companies Act 2006.  However, additional duties will be owed and section 172 of the 2006 Act will apply in modified form: the Risk Transformation Regulations 2017 explain that the reference in section 172(1)(f) to members should be regarded as a reference to shareholders and that the need to act fairly between shareholders of the protected cell company should be separately assessed for each part of the protected cell company.

The Regulations also provide for the powers of directors: they have such powers as (a) are necessary to fulfil their duties; or (b) are conferred upon them by the protected cell company’s instrument of incorporation.

UK: HM Treasury consults on the anti-money laundering supervisory regime

HM Treasury has published a consultation paper concerning the creation of the new Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS): see here. Draft Regulations have also been published: see here (pdf). HM Treasury would like to know, in particular, whether respondents believe that the Regulations are drafted so as to permit OPBAS to help (and ensure) professional body AML supervisors comply with their obligations; views are also sought on the likely impact of OPBAS on business.

UK: FRC publishes annual report for 2016/17

The Financial Reporting Council yesterday published its annual report for 2016/17: see here (pdf). The report notes - as already announced - that a review of the UK Corporate Governance Code will begin in 2017/18. It is also noted, however, that this will be followed by a review of the UK Stewardship Code.

EU: employee participation on the supervisory board and employees working outside of Germany

The Court of Justice of the European Union gave judgment yesterday in Konrad Erzberger v TUI AG (Case C-566/15). Under German law (as interpreted by case law and understood by some, but not all, writers) only employees employed in Germany are permitted to elect employee representatives to the supervisory board. At issue before the court was whether this provision was contrary to EU law. The court held that it was not. A summary of the decision is available here (pdf).

Pakistan: listed companies and board diversity

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has announced that in the revised Code of Corporate Governance it will be a requirement for listed companies to have at least one female director: see here (pdf). According to the SECP, 69 out of the 100 companies that comprise the KSE100 index have no female directors.

Australia: Treasury consults on Banking Executive Accountability Regime

The Treasury has published a consultation paper seeking views on the key policy considerations that will shape the design of the new Banking Executive Accountability Regime: see here (pdf). The purpose of the new regime is to enhance the responsibility and accountability of authorised deposit-takers and their directors and senior executives. The consultation seeks views on a range of matters including the institutions and individuals to be covered by the new regime.

Canada: the personal liability of directors and the oppression remedy

In a judgment given yesterday - Wilson v Alharayeri 2017 SCC 39 (on appeal from 2015 QCCA 1350)- the Supreme Court has, once more, considered the operation of the oppression remedy found in section 241 of the Canada Business Corporations Act 1985. More specifically, the court considered the circumstances in which it was appropriate to make a director personally liable under section 241(3) in respect of oppressive or unfairly prejudicial conduct and the factors that should be considered in fashioning a remedy.

UK: FRC publishes 'Keys Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession'

The Financial Reporting Council has published the latest edition of its annual publication Key Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession: see here (pdf). Section 5, on audit firms, provides data on the concentration of listed companies' audits and highlights the dominance of the 'Big Four' in respect of FTSE100 companies and, indeed, those companies in the FTSE250.

UK: governance standards and listed companies - a couple of consultations

A couple of consultations have begun this week relating to listed companies and governance. First, the Financial Conduct Authority (as the UK's Listing Authority) is seeking views on a proposal to create a new premium listed category for sovereign controlled companies, which would see a relaxation of the related party and controlling shareholder rules for such companies: see here (pdf). Second, a review of the AIM Rules has begun and as part of this the London Stock Exchange is seeking views on the appropriateness of the current corporate governance arrangements and requirements: see here (pdf).

Canada: corporate governance reform - an update

An update on the Bill that will, when enacted, make changes to the governance framework by amending the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, and the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The Bill received its third reading in the House of Commons last month (see here) and has now begun its journey through the Senate, where it received first reading on June 21: see here. The text of the Bill is available here and further information is available here and here. Among the changes proposed are those relating to the election of directors (including annual elections and votes for individual directors), the disclosure of information regarding board diversity and communications with shareholders.

UK: The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices and corporate governance

The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices - titled Good Work - was published today: see here (pdf). The Review adopted this ambition: that all work in the UK economy should be fair, decent and capable of providing realistic scope for development and fulfillment. The best way to achieve better work, according to the Report, is not through national regulation but through "responsible corporate governance, good management and strong employment relations within the organisation". Among the recommendations made in the Report, and directed at the Government, is one requiring companies to be much more transparent about their workforce structure.

USA: Delaware corporate law and distributed ledger technologies

The House of Representatives has passed a Bill one of the purposes of which is to provide specific authority for Delaware corporations to use distributed ledgers (of which blockchain is an example) for the creation and maintenance of corporate records: see here. The Bill was passed by Senate earlier in the year and will become law on receipt of the Governor's approval.  A copy of the Bill as introduced is available here or here (pdf).

EU: The Prospectus Regulation and ESMA's draft technical advice

The Prospectus Regulation (2017/1129) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union a week ago: see here. Further information about the Regulation, the purpose of which is (amongst other things) to improve the current regime to make it easier for SMEs to access capital, is available here. The European Securities and Markets Authority is now consulting on the draft technical advice to accompany the Regulation. Three consultation papers have been published covering the form and content of the Prospectus (including the EU Growth Prospectus) and the approval process: see here.

Zambia: the Banking and Financial Services Act 2017

The Banking and Financial Services Act 2017 was passed earlier this year by the National Assembly and contains, amongst other things, provisions on corporate governance. These are set out in Part IV and include, for example, the responsibilities of directors (section 32) and board composition (section 35). A copy of the Act is available here (pdf).

Turks and Caicos: the Companies Ordinance 2017

The Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, have introduced a new company law framework. The Companies Ordinance 2017 was passed by the National Assembly earlier this year: a copy is available here.

Australia: the regulation of financial benchmarks

The Australian Treasury has published for comment the legislation that will provide a new framework for the regulation of financial benchmarks in Australia: see here. In brief, the administrators of significant benchmarks will need to obtain a licence and comply with new requirements.