Earlier this year, the ICSA Chartered Secretary Magazine featured a story about a shareholder who was forced to return dividends by the Serious Fraud Office, a case which sheds light on the importance of lawful conduct with respect to shareholders, reports company secretary support firm London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk/). Continue reading
Important Changes to Whistle-blower Legislation
Recently a number of whistle-blowers have turned to the press to raise concerns of malpractice within their organisations. This illustrates the need for businesses and other public bodies to have a clear and effective whistleblowing policy that allows employees, contractors and other stakeholders to raise concerns internally without being ignored or suffering reprisals.Ă‚Â A whistle-blowing policy will only serve its purpose if kept up to date and in line with statutory regulation. Continue reading
The Importance of Process Agents for Overseas Firms
For a business based outside the UK, a process agent can play a vital role. That’s because if such a company is raising a loan from a City institution or dealing with UK tenders or suppliers, contractual obligations can make it impossible for them to be served notices, proceedings or documents in their own country. A UK process agent is a business that accepts service of these notices, proceedings and documents on behalf of its overseas clients, and London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk) is a long established player in this business. Continue reading
Understanding the need for an AIM company secretary
Having offered corporate services for well over a decade now, London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk) is accutely aware of the wide range of reasons for company secretarial services, and the situation is no different for AIM-registered companies. First of all, however, it is necessary for the potential users of such services to understand AIM, or the Alternative Investment Market. Continue reading
How London Registrars’ legal support extends far beyond the Bribery Act
Such recent developments such as reports of widespread and unnecessary refusals by many companies to accept offers for Olympics tickets last year for fear of being accused of bribery, and even the new lobbying allegations surrounding Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, have shown that bribery and corruption have remained at the forefront of the public mind-set. It’s one reason why London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk) takes so seriously the assistance that it provides to clients with anti-bribery policies in relation to the Bribery Act. Continue reading
Why companies need to take the Bribery Act 2010 seriously
Since 1st July 2011, a piece of law came into effect which recent statistics have suggested many business owners remain worryingly unaware of. That legislation is the Bribery Act 2010, which individuals and businesses across the UK and elsewhere could potentially be greatly affected by. It is widely accepted that the best corporate governance covers the prevention of bribery, and London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk) is able to assist organisations in this aim. Continue reading
FCA adopts business plan and risk outlook for the year ahead
On Monday April 1, 2013, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) ceased to be, being split into two new regulatory bodies for the financial services industry, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA). In news that will interest many of the clients of the company secretarial services of London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk), the FCA has equipped itself with a business plan and risk outlook for its governing of the industry in the year to come. Continue reading
Financial Reporting Council Advises on Audit Committee Reporting Changes
Organisations using the company secretarial services of London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk) may be interested to read of a recent Audit Quality Forum meeting, at which the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Melanie McLaren discussed audit committee reporting and the issue of audit rotation. Continue reading
Information Commissioner’s Office Could Regulate Blogs, Social Media
Individuals and corporations exist in an increasingly virtual world, with web presence becoming central to reputation management. As a company secretary and legal support services provider, London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk/) advises on company compliance with the Data Protection Act (DPA). A recent judgement on section 36 of the DPA could mean that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) could regulate blogs, personal websites and social media websites such as Facebook.
70% of FTSE 100 Companies Fail to Facilitate Whistleblowing
Company secretarial services and corporate support provider London Registrars (https://www.london-registrars.co.uk/) reveals that approximately 70% of FTSE 100 companies are failing to facilitate whistleblowing in the workplace, says a new study from Middlesex University.