UK: publishing the annual report and accounts - listed companies missing the new deadline

Under Disclosure and Transparency Rule (DTR) 4.1 listed companies are required to publish their annual report and accounts within 4 months of their financial year end. This rule implements Article 4(1) of the European Transparency Directive (2004/109/EC) and applies to companies with year ends after 20 January 2008. According to the FSA (acting as the UK Listing Authority):

Our recent experience, with the first issuers required to comply with these new rules, suggests that some companies have mistakenly believed that publishing Preliminary Results (required previously under the Listing Rules) within this period was enough to fulfil their obligations under DTR 4.1. This is not the case. We would remind issuers that we are able to suspend the listing of, or even take enforcement action against, companies who do not publish the required financial information within the required deadlines, and may employ this where necessary in the future".

For further information see this update.