UK leads drive for single market, says ABI

UK companies are leading the drive for the creation of a single capital market by embracing one-share, one-vote policies for shareholders, according to a study commissioned by ABI.

The study also revealed that one third of Europe's leading companies were not operating shareholder democracy, despite the recommendations of the recent EU takeover directive.

Companies in France, the Netherlands and Sweden were most guilty of distorting shareholder rights, while the UK, Germany and Belgium were most likely to adopt one-share, one-vote.

Peter Montagnon, the ABI's head of investment affairs, said: “Making companies properly accountable to their owners reduces the need for regulation. This is key to the development of single capital market in the EU."