On 30 March, following a recent consultation by the London Stock Exchange (LSE), new versions of the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers will be introduced. The outcome of the consultation has resulted in a number of amendments to both sets of rules.
AIM Rules for Companies
Early notification
A new requirement will be introduced requiring a company’s nominated adviser, or Nomad, to submit an early notification form containing key information relating to the proposed new applicant. This form should be submitted as soon as is reasonably practicable, but before the pre-admission announcement is submitted.
Nomads will be able to exercise a degree of discretion when deciding when to submit the new notification form but the LSE expects them to take into account whether sufficient information can be provided to allow for a meaningful discussion.
Corporate governance
The amended rules will require details of the recognised corporate governance code the company has chosen to apply and details of how it complies with that code. If the company deviates from the code in any way an explanation as to why must be provided and published on the company’s website. A requirement to include this information in the company’s admission document will also be introduced.
Companies will have until 28 September 2018 to comply with these new provisions but the new admission document requirements will apply from the earlier date of 30 March 2018.
The LSE has chosen not to provide a list of recognised governance codes and appreciates that all AIM companies are different. Companies are likely to adopt either the UK Corporate Governance Code or the QCA Code, the first of which is expected to be updated later this year (we have covered numerous corporate governance developments in previous Talking Business blogs).