Corporate governance introduction

The Listing Rules require a company to include in its annual report and accounts a statement of how it has applied the main and supporting principles set out in the 2006 Combined Code (the Code). The Listing Rules also require a company to include a statement as to whether or not it has complied throughout the accounting period with the Code provisions. A company that has not complied with the Code provisions, or complied with only some of the Code provisions or (in the case of provisions whose requirements are of a continuing nature) complied for only part of an accounting period, must specify the Code provisions with which it has not complied, and (where relevant) for what part of the period such non-compliance continued, and give reasons for such non-compliance.