Good corporate governance protects and enhances shareholder value. Once perceived to be of concern only to public listed companies, both that perception and the reality of the situation have radically changed. It is true that public listed companies are expressly subject to regulation directly focused on them, including the Combined Code and the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.
However, the overriding interests of shareholders and the influence and requirements of banks and other funding institutions are such that good, if not best, governance practices ought to be instituted and followed in private companies as well as public companies.
Add to that, the recent statutory codification of directors duties, the introduction of specific anti-conflict of interests legislation and the established regime for directors' personal liability and disqualification and not only does good corporate governance become a major plank of risk management for the company itself but also for directors as individuals.
Good corporate governance is, however, not only a defensive tool - it is a value creator.
MacRoberts Corporate Group advises both private and public listed companies and other bodies on a wide range of issues including:
- directors' duties and responsibilities
- board structure and composition
- the Combined Code on Corporate Governance
- the Listing Rules of the UK Stock Exchange
- preparation and review of constitutional documents
- directors share dealing codes
- directors conflict of interests policies
Through our involvement with our cross-disciplinary Public Sector & Government Group, we are also able to deliver tailored corporate advice for Public Sector and Third Sector organisations (including many community-owned organisations).
For further information, or for details of our Corporate Governance training or fixed-price packages, please contact us.