The FCA has published Primary Market Bulletin (PMB) No 54 outlining its concerns around the unlawful disclosure of inside information during the course of M&A transactions.

The Takeover Code (the “Code”) has published its response to its consultation on the application of the Code and is adopting the amendments previously proposed in PCP 2024/1 subject to some modifications.  The changes will take effect on 3 February 2025 and transitional arrangements will run for two years until 2 February 2027. The Code has been amended to refocus its application on companies which are registered in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (“UK registered”) and either: any of the company’s securities are admitted to trading on a UK regulated market ie. the Main Market, a UK multilateral trading facility ie. AIM and Aquis Growth Market, or a stock exchange in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man ie. TISE (“UK quoted"); or the company was UK quoted at any time during the two years prior to the relevant date. Subject to transitional provisions, the Code will no longer apply to a public or private company which ceased to be UK quoted more than two years prior to the relevant date.

Following on from the consultation at the end of 2023, the FCA has published its changes to the Listing Rules sourcebook, chapter 8 (sponsors), which take effect immediately. The changes focus on how a sponsor or a person applying for approval as a sponsor is required to demonstrate their competence. The FCA has largely adopted the rules and amendments to the three Technical Notes on sponsor competency proposed in CP23/31 but with some minor amendments to reflect feedback received. The FCA has also published Primary Market Bulletin No.48 which is focussed on consulting on changes to existing technical notes that the FCA consider are the most essential in supporting the understanding of the new UK Listing Rules or most frequently used.  Notably, the FCA states that it expects to: send notifications to issuers mid-May explaining where they expect to be mapped to should the proposals be implemented; and seek board approval of the final UK Listing Rules at the board meetings on either 27 June or 25 July. If the FCA is sticking to its original timetable and the rules are approved at one of these Board meetings, the final policy statement would subsequently be published with an implementation period of 2 weeks before the new rules come into force.

A new Takeover Panel consultation proposes to narrow the scope of the companies subject to the Takeover Code (the “Code”). Under the proposals, the Code would only apply to a company which has its registered office in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (“UK registered”) and either: any of the company’s securities are admitted to trading on a UK regulated market ie. the Main Market, a UK multilateral trading facility ie. AIM, or a stock exchange in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (“UK listed”); or the company was UK listed at any time during the three years prior to the relevant date. Subject to transitional provisions, the Code would no longer apply to a public or private company which is neither UK listed nor UK listed during the three years prior to the relevant date.

Following the May 2023 consultation on the UK Corporate Governance Code (“Code”), the FRC has published a revised Code. The changes focus primarily on one area - Internal Controls whilst other changes have been kept to a minimum in a move to promote smarter regulation.The 2024 Code will apply to financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2025 save for new Provision 29 (board declaration on effectiveness of their material internal controls) which will apply to financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026.  Revised guidance on the 2024 Code will be published on 29 January 2024.

Following on from the consultation earlier this year, the FCA has published feedback and detailed proposals which will transform the current listing regime. The FCA is proposing to create a single listing category for UK listings of equity shares in commercial companies (the “commercial companies” category) replacing the current premium and standard listing categories. Under the proposals: class transactions will no longer require an FCA approved circular or prior shareholder approval (except for reverse takeovers); and a related party transaction, where the transaction is above the 5% threshold, will just require an announcement containing a fair and reasonable statement by the board confirmed by the sponsor. These changes represent a major overhaul of the current listing regime for companies with equity shares and are part of a package of reforms to attract a wider range of companies to list in the UK.  Comments are required by 16 February 2024 for proposals regarding sponsor competence and by 22 March 2024 for any changes to the new proposed UK Listing Rules Sourcebook (“UKLR”). There will then be a short period between publication and implementation of the new UKLR, expected in the second half of 2024. 

This edition of Primary Market Bulletin examines: whether major shareholders can discuss their stewardship plans on particular issuers with other shareholders with similar ESG strategies without disclosing this to the market in accordance with the market abuse regime; and the results of an assessment of how sponsors have made changes to their procedures to assess whether new applicants are able to comply with the new TCFD-aligned disclosure requirements in the Listing Rules.