QCA Guidance booklets

QCA booklets providing guidance on issues relating to SQCs (smaller quoted companies).

For more information see below. To order copies of any of our publications please click here or on the titles below for the order form.

A brief guide to floating a company in the UK: AIM, The Main Market, The PLUS-listed and PLUS-quoted markets
London IPOs: A Practical Guide for International Companies
Investor Relations Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies     AIM Website Guide - Rule 26
Rewarding Enterprise: Guidance for Companies on Employee Share Schemes Guidance on Institutional Investor Guidelines for Share Incentive Schemes
Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies on preparing a Business Review
Corporate Governance Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies
Corporate Governance Guidance for AIM companies

A brief guide to floating a company in the UK: AIM, The Main Market, The PLUS-listed and PLUS-quoted markets (January 2008) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £25)

Deciding to raise funds on a public market can be the most important decision made by a company’s board of directors. This guide will help directors make an informed decision. It provides information on the advantages of a flotation, how to float, which types of advisers are on hand to help, and an overview of the regulations governing the principal UK equity markets (both on flotation and on a continuing basis thereafter). In addition, it provides a summary of UK taxation legislation, the effects of which will also have to be considered before embarking upon an IPO process.

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.

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.

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

As part of the AIM Rules for Companies, which were 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 IR website.

Guidance for Companies on Employee Share Schemes / Guidance on Institutional Investor Guidelines for Share Incentive Schemes (Sept 2006) - (Members' subsequent copy £10, Non-Members £20).

This two-guide set 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.

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.

Corporate Governance Guides

The Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) believes a well thought out corporate governance policy is in the best interest of small and mid-cap quoted companies (SQCs). A good corporate governance culture should improve the way a company is run and the way it is seen to be run. This can increase investor confidence, thus improving liquidity and the ability to raise finance.

The QCA has therefore created, in consultation with a number of institutional smaller company investors and SQC advisers, two guidance booklets on corporate governance for SQCs.

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.

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 support the foundations of the Combined Code and this guide is designed to help companies apply the principles to their own particular circumstances.