Pension funds back FRC code September 23, 2010 A RAFT of UK pension funds have come out in support of the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s) new Stewardship Code. Eleven pension funds, collectively valued at £180bn, have banded together to back the new code, set out by the FRC in July. In a letter sent to the financial watchdog, the pension funds said they [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 22, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES SIEMENS PROMISES WORKERS JOBS FOR LIFE Siemens’ German workers have struck a deal that will see their jobs secured indefinitely, in an arresting move that highlights how the financial crisis has triggered a fresh consensus between labour and management in corporate Germany. The engineering group said it had sealed an agreement with its [...]
Cable wages war on British boardrooms September 21, 2010 VINCE Cable will today launch a scathing attack on British business, announcing a wide-ranging investigation into company takeovers, executive pay and corporate governance. The business secretary will use a keynote speech at the Liberal Democrat conference to wage war on large companies, promising to “shine a harsh light into the murky world of corporate behaviour”. [...]
Hong Kong gains ground on the City September 20, 2010 THE government was warned yesterday not to risk London’s position as the world’s largest financial centre as a report showed the City and New York losing ground to Hong Kong. Hong Kong has now joined New York and London as one of the “Big Three” financial centres for the first time, according to the latest [...]
Stewardship Code to face a final hurdle September 19, 2010 THE GOVERNMENT’S new best practice rules for shareholders face a crucial period this week, as the last batch of institutional investors declare their support for the guidelines. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is also due to report on its two-month consultation into the Stewardship Code, which aims to help institutional shareholders keep a closer eye [...]
Cable’s power grab threat to share listings September 15, 2010 LONDON’S competitiveness as an attractive company listing destination is in danger of being jeopardised by political gesturing between business secretary Vince Cable and the Treasury, one of the UK’s most senior investment bankers has warned. Sir Laurie Magnus, who was yesterday appointed chairman of Lexicon Partners, said plans to separate the regulation of primary and [...]
Shareholders urged to sign up to new Stewardship Code September 15, 2010 SPEAKERS at the ABI’s investment conference yesterday urged company shareholders to sign up to the government’s new Stewardship Code, arguing that improving the long-term attitude of investors is crucial in order to hold at bay radical changes to governance regulation at a European level. Peter Montagnon, who left the ABI earlier this year to become [...]
LSE boss: help me protect the city September 14, 2010 THE London Stock Exchange’s boss last night called on those involved in the capital raising business to back his campaign against proposed new rules he fears could “severely” impact London’s competitiveness. There are growing fears that the new rules could chase capital raising out of London, robbing the City of much-needed income and jobs. Xavier [...]
Plans to reform the tripartite system have opened a new can of worms September 14, 2010 WHEN George Osborne set about dismantling the tripartite regulatory system, he said the reforms would help prevent another banking crisis. But his decision to hand responsibility for the UK listing authority (UKLA) to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) could end up causing even bigger problems. The FRC is controlled by Vince Cable’s business department, whereas [...]
LSE warns on City threat September 13, 2010 THE London Stock Exchange (LSE) yesterday made public its opposition to government proposals to merge the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) arguing the move would deny the City a voice in Europe, reduce the capital’s competitiveness and ultimately cost jobs. “We care deeply about the competitiveness of the UK’s IPO [...]