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Takeover panel rule change – foreign companies now covered

The ShareSoc blog provides news and informal commentary from directors, members and other contributors. Entries reflect the personal views of the authors, which do not necessarily reflect ShareSoc’s formal position. Contributors may hold shares in the companies mentioned. Nothing in this blog should be viewed as financial advice. You may submit comments on blog posts, but ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit inappropriate or defamatory submissions.

A little reported change to the Takeover Panel Code that took effect today will strengthen the rights of shareholders significantly. In future those companies that are registered in the UK but have their operations overseas will be bound by the Code. Previously they were not. So for example, AIM companies such as Globo (operations in Greece) or Pan African Resources (operations in South Africa) will now have to comply with the Takeover Panel Code.

The Takeover Panel Code helps to protect the interests of minority investors, particularly in takeover situations. It contains rules on disclosures and the procedures to be following when a bid is made. So this change is to be welcomed as previously companies could register in the UK and hence apparently be subject to the normal provisions of UK Company Law. But if their operations were based overseas they could ignore the expected bidding process.

Roger Lawson

Post Date: September 30, 2013

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