Linklaters

The following topics are covered in this issue. Click on the links in the right hand column to read the individual articles or download the entire issue as a PDF. 

• Listed companies' obligations to report on boardroom diversity confirmed
  The UK Corporate Governance Code will be amended to require companies to report annually on their boardroom diversity policy, including gender diversity.
• Research on women on boards published
  Cranfield School of Management has published its research findings relating to women in the boardroom.
• Proposal to amend Transparency Directive
  The European Commission has published the provisional wording of a draft directive to amend the Transparency Directive.
• EU "gets tough" on market abuse
  The European Commission has published a draft of a new Market Abuse Regulation.
• European Commission publishes draft legislation to amend MiFID
  The European Commission has published draft legislative proposals to amend the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive.
• BIS consults on reducing the burden of accounting and audit regulation
  The government has published detailed proposals to reduce the number of SMEs required to undertake an audit and to exempt many subsidiaries from producing audited accounts.
• OFT refers audit market for large companies to the Competition Commission
  The OFT has announced that it has referred the market for statutory audit services to large companies in the UK to the Competition Commission for further investigation.
• SFO comments on M&A due diligence and enforcing the Bribery Act
  Richard Alderman, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, recently delivered a couple of speeches in Washington on aspects of the Bribery Act 2010.
• Consultation on the future of the Financial Reporting Council
  The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Financial Reporting Council have published a joint consultation seeking views on ways to streamline the FRC.
• FRRP proposes changes to its operating procedures
  The Financial Reporting Review Panel is consulting on changes to its operating procedures.