QCA Guidance Booklets

Are You Ready? A Brief Guide for a Company Aspiring to Go Public (May 2010) - (Members' subsequent copy £25, Non-Members £40)

This guide has been written for companies, who are considering admission to a London-based exchange. It will help them identify what characteristics they need for their advisors to deem appropriate for admission and that investors look for when investing. The guidance booklet has been compiled by members of the QCA Corporate Finance Advisors Committee. Leading small and mid-cap investors have also contributed their comments on what they consider to be the 'ideal' attributes for smaller public companies.

Rewarding Enterprise III - Guidance for Companies on Employee Share Schemes / Guidance on Institutional Investor Guidelines for Share Incentive Schemes (July 2009) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £20)

This two-guide set, now in its third edition, provides all the essential information on employee share schemes. Share schemes, properly designed and implemented, can be key to underpinning corporate performance. The first guide sets out the choices available to SQCs for establishing the most appropriate scheme for their business. The second guide provides easy to understand guidance on the guidelines issued by institutional investors, including the ABI and NAPF.

Audit Committee Guide for Smaller Quoted Companies (February 2009) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £25)

The Audit Committee is one of the key checks and balances within corporate governance structures and is seen as the 'conscience' of the company. This guide has been designed to give a concise overview of all the responsibilities that fall to Audit Committees and their Chairmen, and provides detailed guidance on the content of Audit Committee reports.

A Guide to Better Communication Between Small Companies and Big Investors (October 2008) - (Members' subsequent copy £5, Non-Members £10)

A key element of good corporate governance is the relationship between a company and its shareholders. A guide to better communication between small companies and big investors gives best practice guidance on how companies and shareholders can engage and communicate effectively. The guide has been compiled following consultation with the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

London IPOs: A Practical Guide for International Companies (December 2007) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £25)

The London capital markets attract significant numbers of small and mid-cap international companies seeking to raise equity. London IPOs: A Practical Guide for International Companies aims to help these companies negotiate the unfamiliar maze of laws, rules, and protocols. The guide covers both pre- and post-IPO issues that regularly present international companies with unfamiliar difficulties.

AIM Website Guide - Rule 26 (August 2007) - (Members' subsequent copy £5, Non-Members £12.50)

As part of the AIM Rules for Companies, introduced in February 2007, AIM companies must have a website that includes certain information and abides by particular rules. This guide provides not only basic compliance advice, but also best practice guidance on how to make the most of your investors relations website.

Corporate Governance Guidelines for AIM Companies (February 2007) - (Free until new edition is published in July 2010).

This guide is specifically for AIM companies. AIM-quoted companies do not have to comply with the Combined Code. However, with the help of the QCA guidelines, AIM companies can develop their corporate governance culture by using a simpler and less time consuming framework. The QCA will be publishing a new edition of this guide to reflect revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code, which is due out in August 2010. To pre-order your copy of the new edition, please click here.

Investor Relations Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies (November 2006) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £25)

Investor relations (IR) is becoming an increasingly important aspect of life as a listed company, but until now there has been little help available to smaller quoted company (SQC) directors. In order to fill this gap, the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) has drawn up an easily accessible guide on IR for SQCs. This provides all the relevant information necessary to construct an effective IR regime from First Principles to working with compliance.

Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies on Preparing a Business Review (August 2006) - (Members' subsequent copy £5, Non-Members £15)

This guide provides straightforward practical assistance for smaller quoted companies (SQCs) on how to prepare a Business Review. The Business Review is an opportunity for companies to lower the cost of capital by communicating openly and directly with their shareholders. The QCA guide is designed to take advantage of this opportunity rather than regarding it as a burden.

Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies - The Combined Code on Corporate Governance (August 2004) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £25)

This booklet provides help on implementing the Combined Code for Main Market SQCs. The QCA supports the Combined Code's foundation, and this guide is designed to help companies apply the principles to their own particular circumstances.