Smaller quoted companies receive FRC help to improve quality of reporting

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Many a smaller quoted company currently benefitting from the corporate governance services of London Registrars is likely to take an interest in the Financial Reporting Council (FRC)’s recent launch of a programme of measures intended to assist firms like theirs to compile better quality corporate reports.

The FRC has published a discussion paper, entitled Improving the Quality of Reporting by Reporting by Smaller Listed and AIM Quoted Companies, in which it outlined the results of a review of the standard of reporting for such companies. Feedback on the findings and conclusions was also requested.

Describing smaller quoted companies as “critical to generating future jobs and growth in the economy”, the FRC’s CEO, Stephen Haddrill, said that they nonetheless required “access to capital to invest and grow. We recognise that these businesses have limited resources and face challenges in reporting. Continue reading

Bearer shares abolished by SBEE Act 2015

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Important news for many of those organisations using London Registrars’ business consulting service is the abolition, as of 26 May 2015, of bearer shares, which are shares that have been issued but have no registered owner. The change has been brought into law by the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (SBEE)’s implementing of amendments to the Companies Act 2006. Continue reading

Nearly a quarter of FTSE 100 board positions now filled by women

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A development of great relevance to corporate governance in the UK over the last four years has been the increasing prominence of female faces in top companies’ boardrooms. Lord Davies of Abersochā€™s annual report publishing the current state of gender diversity on FTSE boards, reveals that women now occupy almost a quarter of FTSE 100 board positions. Continue reading

A quarter of academy school heads leave their posts over the past year

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As if the responsibilities of an academy company secretary were not onerous enough, many academy schools are also now facing a looming leadership crisis, because of the difficulties in attracting a new head teacher. 26 per cent of academy heads left their roles over the last academic year, according to research by UHY Hacker Young, leaving schools with limited replacement options. Continue reading

169 companies fined by regulator due to pensions compliance failures

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The Pensions Regulator has released figures confirming that a total of 169 employers have now been fined for failing to comply with their workplace pensions obligations. while this should alert the clients of London Registrars’ business support services to the importance of tending to their own duties in this area, tens of thousands of businesses have nonetheless now complied with their automatic enrolment duties. Continue reading

What companies need to know about Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)

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Those in need of new business support who are interested in analysing and comparing profitability between companies and industries may do so via EBITDA, a measure of profits that eliminates the effects of financing and accounting decisions.

You will find in a company’s income statements its earnings, tax and interest figures, and in the notes, to operating profit or on the cash flow statement the depreciation and amortization figures. EBITDA can be calculated by first establishing the operating profit – also known as earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) – before adding back depreciation and amortization.

However, EBITDA as a non-GAAP measure allows greater discretion to be exercised with regard to what does or doesn’t figure in the calculation. It means that from one reporting period to another, some companies may alter the items included in their EBITDA calculation.

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Changes to business names rules

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Changes to the rules regarding business names came into effect on 31st January 2015. The changes were outlined after a government consultation, which asked for views on the existing rules relating to names of registered companies that are similar to those of other businesses and words and expressions that were previously deemed ā€˜sensitiveā€™. Those embarking on new company formations may wish to register several variations on their name to stop their competitors taking advantage of the new rules. Continue reading

Consultation launched on possible ISDX Growth Market rule changes

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Companies with an interest in the CREST share registrar services of London Registrars may also read with interest the news of the launch of a market consultation by the London-based stock exchange, ICAP Securities & Derivatives Exchange (ISDX). It concerns potential changes to the ISDX Growth Market Rules for Issuers and the ISDX Corporate Adviser Handbook. Continue reading

Record-breaking number of start-ups hailed

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Company formations continued apace throughout 2014 as the economy picked up, as indicated by new figures released by StartUp Britain. They reveal that the UK saw the creation of a record number of new businesses over the past year, with 184,671 Greater London businesses being registered with Companies House.

That predictably made the capital the strongest performer on the ‘entrepreneurial map’ that was also released by the national enterprise campaign, which is run by the Centre for Entrepreneurs think tank. 581,173 businesses were registered across the country overall last year, compared to the previous record of 526,446 businesses the year before, and 2012’s 484,224 figure. Continue reading