UK government

UK Government Backs “Transparency & Trust” Paper Recommendations

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The UK government has published a response paper largely in agreement with the controversial “Transparency & Trust” discussion paper published by its Business, Innovation and Skills Department in July 2013.

The chief tenet of the response paper is that the transparency of UK company ownership should be increased through the introduction of a central registry of company beneficial ownership.  Under the proposed new rules, companies would be required to obtain and maintain details of their beneficial owners and provide this information to the registrar of companies. Except for residential addresses, this information will be available to the public. A beneficial owner will be defined as any person who ultimately holds at least 25 percent of a company’s shares or voting rights or who otherwise exercises control over the management of a company.

Other significant proposals in the paper include a ban on corporate directors (with certain exceptions) and a tightening of the directors’ disqualification regime.

The government intends to introduce and implement the necessary legislation as soon as it is feasible.  Government Paper.

Terms of Reference for Wheatley Review of LIBOR Published

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On July 30, HM Treasury published a press release setting out the terms of reference for the independent review of LIBOR to be carried out by Martin Wheatley, Chief Executive-designate of the Financial Conduct Authority. Press Release.

Issues to be considered are:

  • Whether participation in the setting of LIBOR should be a regulated activity.
  • The construction of LIBOR, including the feasibility of using actual trade data to set the benchmark.
  • The appropriate governance structure for LIBOR.
  • The potential for alternative rate-setting processes.
  • The financial stability consequences of a move to a new regime and how a transition could be appropriately managed.
  • The adequacy and scope of sanctions for tackling LIBOR abuse. In particular, it will cover the scope of the UK authorities’ civil and criminal sanctioning powers with respect to financial misconduct, particularly market abuse and abuse relating to the setting of LIBOR and equivalent rate-setting processes, as well as the FSA’s approved persons regime and investigations into market misconduct.

There will be a four-week public consultation starting on August 10 with Mr. Wheatley aiming to publish his conclusions and recommendations by the end of September. The UK government intends to implement the findings of the review in the Financial Services Bill 2012-13.