Corporate governance links

OFR - Operating and Financial Review

May 2004 - UK Government proposals on the OFR require the directors of quoted companies to give a balanced and comprehensive analysis of their business as part of their annual reports and accounts to shareholders.

Higgs report: Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors

In April 2002 the UK Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt, and the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, appointed Derek Higgs to lead a short independent review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. The report was published on 20th January 2003

Smith report: Audit Committees Combined Code Guidance

A UK report related to the Higgs review, but focused on guidance to audit committees on the combined code. Published by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in January 2003

European Corporate Governance Institute – Index of Codes

New corporate governance codes and principles. The ECGI website contains one of most comprehensive lists of corporate governance codes and principles in the world. Almost every week, a new code is published and the ECGI tries to ensure that it is available from this site, or, if not, a link to the code is identified.

No Surprises: The case for better risk reporting

No Surprises: The Cash for Better Risk Reporting analyses the risk-related disclosures that recently floated companies put in their prospectuses and 1998 annual reports.  This UK research shows that listed companies already report a lot of information about risk.  This means the question for directors is not "Do you want to report on risk"?, but "Do you want to do a better job in reporting on risk"  The report puts a readable, spirited and compelling case for saying "Yes" and provides practical tools for improvement.

Cadbury report (The financial aspects of corporate governance)

Committee set up by the Financial Reporting Council, the London Stock Exchange and the accountancy profession, 1 December 1992

Greenbury report

Study Group on UK Directors' Remuneration set up by the CBI, 17 July 1995.

The combined code (Turnbull): Principles of good governance and code of best practice

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales has published the final guidance on the implementation of the internal control requirements of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance. The guidance Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code has the support and endorsement of the Stock Exchange.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (107th Congress of the U.S.A)

The USA Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act. Another link to the Act can be found here.