The City of London Corporation is calling on City firms to donate funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the London Communities Response Fund, which it is supporting through its charitable funder, City Bridge Trust.
The London Communities Response Fund is administered and convened by London Funders, the umbrella body for corporate, statutory and independent funders in London.
Businesses can make financial contributions to the Fund, which has already secured a total of £2m from City Bridge Trust and the Greater London Authority, by contacting info@londonfunders.org.uk.
Individuals can email info@TheLordMayorsAppeal.org to donate to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which supports charities Samaritans, Place2Be, Onside Youth Zones and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, all of whom are working to support their service users during this crisis.
People who want to donate funding to a national campaign can do so by contacting the National Emergencies Trust.
Individuals who wish to volunteer are urged to visit the GLA’s Team London website.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has asked companies due to produce preliminary financial statements in the next few days to delay publication due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus.
The watchdog urged all listed companies to observe a moratorium on the publication of preliminary financial statements for at least two weeks.
“The unprecedented events of the last couple of weeks mean that the basis on which companies are reporting and planning is changing rapidly,” the FCA said in a statement.
“It is important that due consideration is given by companies to these events in preparing their disclosures. Observing timetables set before this crisis arose may not give companies the necessary time to do this.
“In addition, listed companies and the audit profession are facing unprecedented practical challenges during the coronavirus crisis.
“The FCA believes the practice of issuing preliminary financial statements in advance of the full audited financial statements is adding unnecessarily to the pressure on companies and the audit profession at this moment.”
Financial markets have faced major turmoil in the wake of the virus crisis, with the FTSE 100 index – which contains the biggest 100 companies on the London stock exchange – losing more than 28% of its value since February 21.
The FCA said while the practice of issuing preliminary financial statements was common among UK-listed companies, it was not required by either the Listing Rules or the Transparency Directive.
Rather, companies must publish full audited financial statements within four months of the end of the financial year.
The FCA also said it was in talks with the Financial Reporting Council and the PRA about possible measures aimed at ensuring companies take the necessary time “in these uncertain times to prepare appropriate disclosures and address current practical challenges”.
It said the three bodies intended to announce details soon.
The Authority also reminded companies the Market Abuse Regulation remains in full force, with listed firms still required to announce inside information to the market “as soon as possible unless a valid reason to delay disclosure under the regulation exists”.
