Compensation & Benefits: Amendment to AIM rules to now require disclosure of directors’ remuneration
On 15 December 2009, the London Stock Exchange published AIM Notice
35, detailing proposed amendments to the AIM Rules. On 17 February 2010,
AIM Notice 36 was published with a new version of the AIM Rules, which
are effective from this date
It was proposed that AIM Rule 19 should be amended to require an AIM
company to disclose details of each director’s remuneration in its
annual audited accounts. AIM Notice 36 sets out details of the
consultation on the proposed amendments under AIM Notice 35 and confirms
that these will be made.
Present position
An AIM company must publish annual audited accounts which must be
sent to its shareholders not later than six months after the end of the
financial year to which they relate.
Currently disclosure of directors’ remuneration is not a
requirement. AIM Rule 19 only requires disclosure of certain
transactions with related parties.
Proposed disclosure
Details required to be disclosed will include:
- Directors’ emoluments and compensation;
- Share options and other long term incentive plan details, including
information on all outstanding options and/or awards and any gains made
on exercise and/or vesting; and - The value of benefits through defined benefit or defined
contribution pension schemes.
Disclosure will be required for each director of the AIM company.
Commentary
The amendment to AIM Rule 19 will bring AIM listed companies in line
with the disclosure and reporting obligations set out in the Companies
Act 2006 and which currently apply only to UK companies quoted on the
official list of the UKLA.
Although the amendment will be more onerous for AIM companies than
the current requirements, the amendment is logical, and therefore not
entirely unexpected, in light of the increasing focus on corporate
governance and the area of remuneration in particular.
The new disclosure of directors’ remuneration requirement under Rule
19 will apply to AIM companies with financial years ending on, or
after, 31 March 2010.
Resources
For further information or to discuss the issues
raised, please contact Guy Abbiss (guy.abbiss@abbisscadres.com)
or Libs Davies (libs.davies@abbisscadres.com)
on +44 (0) 203 051 5711.