The quality of the institutional, legal and regulatory framework is an important foundation for implementing the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, requiring effective supervision and enforcement that market participants can rely on. Chapter 2 provides insights on the legal framework for corporate governance, revealing the frequency of legislative reforms in this area, as well as the continued relevance of national corporate governance codes or equivalent instruments and their monitoring as complementary mechanisms. Legal and regulatory frameworks should be coupled with strong and independent institutional oversight and Chapter 2 also offers information on the lead regulatory institution for corporate governance of listed companies in each jurisdiction, and on mechanisms to ensure their independence.
OECD Corporate Governance Factbook 2023
2. The corporate governance and institutional framework
Abstract
2.1. The regulatory framework for corporate governance
Corporate governance legal frameworks continue to adapt to a changing environment: during 2021‑22 nearly 70% of Factbook jurisdictions amended either their company law or securities law or both. During the same period, national corporate governance codes or equivalent frameworks were updated by approximately one‑third of Factbook jurisdictions. The balance between formal regulation and a “comply or explain” approach in the corporate governance framework varies across jurisdictions.
Traditionally, jurisdictions have used different combinations of laws and regulatory instruments on the one hand, and codes and principles on the other to oversee corporate governance issues. In all surveyed jurisdictions, the corporate governance framework is set forth by company laws and securities or capital markets laws, which provide for additional binding requirements for listed companies, contributing to the enforceability of shareholder protection for regulators. In most jurisdictions, the corporate governance framework is complemented by other binding regulations, often included in listing rules issued by the stock exchange or specific regulations issued by the main public regulators for corporate governance (Table 2.1).
Almost all Factbook jurisdictions have a national corporate governance code or equivalent instrument for corporate governance principles and recommendations, testifying to the continued relevance of such complementary mechanisms in allowing flexibility and the development of company best practices, particularly for emerging corporate governance issues.
The G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, as revised in 2023, specifically refer to corporate governance codes in Principle I.B: “Corporate governance codes may offer a complementary mechanism to support the development and evolution of companies’ best practices, provided that their status is duly defined” (OECD, 2023[1]). Eighty-two percent of the jurisdictions surveyed have a corporate governance code that follows a non-binding soft law “comply or explain” or similar approach. Some of these jurisdictions, including Indonesia and South Africa, have opted for specific variations of the “comply or explain” non-binding approach, such as “apply and/or explain” (See Box 2.1 for more examples).
Conversely, 18% of jurisdictions have either binding or partly binding instruments, a slight increase compared to 16% in 2021. Six jurisdictions (12%) (Costa Rica; Hong Kong (China); Israel; Mexico; Saudi Arabia; and Türkiye) have opted for a mixed system of binding and voluntary measures (Figure 2.1).
Only three jurisdictions use a binding approach. These jurisdictions do not have a national code or equivalent instrument under the “comply or explain” framework, and are also the only jurisdictions that adopt a legally binding approach. India and the United States rely upon their laws, regulations and listing rules as their legal corporate governance framework. The People’s Republic of China (hereafter ‘China’) is another notable exception. Its national corporate governance code, updated in 2018, is fully binding so may be considered as a mandatory set of provisions.
Box 2.1. Variations on “comply or explain” reporting on corporate governance codes
A few countries have developed unusual systems for promoting implementation of national corporate governance codes that do not strictly follow the most common “comply or explain” approach but can also be categorised as non-binding soft law approaches. For example, in Costa Rica, it is mandatory to implement the National Council of Supervision of the Financial System (CONASSIF) Corporate Governance Regulation but based on a “comply and explain” rule with some flexibility, unlike the more common model followed in other countries under which the company may simply choose not to comply but must explain why. While complying with the code is considered mandatory, companies may also apply the principle of proportionality, meaning that a company may justify not implementing certain provisions due to its circumstances. Listed companies are nevertheless mandated under the national code to establish and disclose their own codes and additional information consistent with the disclosure and transparency recommendations of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance.
In Saudi Arabia, the Capital Market Authority’s Corporate Governance Regulations are binding by default for all companies listed on the Main Market, except when provisions clarify that they represent guiding provisions. In addition, the Regulations also specify that there are some mandatory provisions for companies on the Parallel Market.
South Africa’s King IV Report on Corporate Governance (King IV Code) issued by the Institute of Directors in South Africa of 2016 represents a set of recommendations and best practices in line with the soft law approach, but it has an application regime named “apply and explain”. While the Code’s principles are described as voluntary, companies are expected to apply the principles and provide an explanation of the practices implemented, explaining how they support the application of the principles.
In Malaysia, the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance follows an alternative application method named “apply or explain an alternative”, according to which companies that are not applying the practices prescribed by the Code must provide an explanation for the departure, and disclose an alternative practice that meets the intended outcome of the principles of the Code.
Mexico is an example of a mixed approach involving binding laws and voluntary code recommendations. In 2005, its securities market law incorporated a minimum framework of the practices and principles of sound corporate governance for listed companies contained in the Code of Principles and Best Practices in Corporate Governance. That is, while the Code itself is not binding, many of the practices recommended in it have become binding by law. Moreover, stock exchange listing rules require listed companies to disclose their degree of adherence to the Code both to the stock exchange on which their stock is traded, and to investors. Stock exchange listing rules also require issuing companies to be knowledgeable about the Code.
National corporate governance codes or equivalent instruments are updated regularly: 16 jurisdictions amended or revised their codes or made equivalent changes in their listing requirements and rules (e.g. United States) in 2021‑22 (Table 2.3). Nearly two‑thirds of jurisdictions revised their codes or equivalent framework between 2019 and 2022. Five jurisdictions updated their code more than once during that period (Austria; Germany; Hong Kong (China); Saudi Arabia; and the United States) Since the last revision of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance in 2015, more than 90% of all surveyed jurisdictions have revised their codes or equivalent provisions at least once. For example, Germany carries out reviews of its Corporate Governance Code on an annual basis to determine whether best practices included are still relevant or need to be adapted, with the latest update taking effect in June of 2022. Malaysia has updated its code four times since it was first adopted in 2000, including most recently in 2021.
In the majority of jurisdictions, national authorities and/or stock exchanges have taken the lead in establishing or revising the codes. In some jurisdictions, codes are devised and updated by working groups comprising institutions representing different markets segments (such as the Interagents Working Group in Brazil), as well as both public and private actors, such as in Indonesia where the National Committee on Corporate Governance includes representatives from regulatory authorities, issuers as well as individual market experts and assists the Financial Services Authority (OJK) as custodian of the corporate governance code and instruments.
The most common approach adopted for overseeing corporate governance codes by Factbook jurisdictions is a mixed public-private sector model, involving either joint oversight exercised by national authorities together with a mix of private sector groups (27%) or of national authorities and stock exchanges (8%). National authorities have played a growing role as the formal and sole custodian for their codes and updates, increasing from 17% to 25% of jurisdictions between 2015 and 2022.
Stock exchanges and private associations when they carry out these functions alone also play an important role as the key custodian in 18% and 22% of surveyed jurisdictions respectively (Table 2.3, Figure 2.2). For example, in Hungary, the Corporate Governance Committee is an advisory committee of the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE). Members of the Committee include representatives of issuers, regulatory authorities and the stock exchange, as well as independent market experts and lawyers appointed by BSE’s board of directors.
To support effective disclosure and implementation of non-binding “comply or explain” codes, a national report is published in more than two‑thirds of the jurisdictions covered by the Factbook, a notable increase from 2015 when less than half published such reports. Reviewing listed companies’ adherence to such codes is an increasingly common practice across jurisdictions, in line with the recommendations of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, as revised in 2023. Responsibility for publishing such reports is more or less evenly split between governmental authorities, stock exchanges, and private sector or stakeholder groups.
The G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, as revised in 2023, in addition to recognising corporate governance codes as a tool to develop good governance, also highlight the importance of clear definitions in terms of coverage, implementation, compliance and sanctions of corporate governance codes or equivalent instruments to strengthen their effectiveness for companies.
Among surveyed jurisdictions, at least 44 institutions (in 34 jurisdictions) issue a national report reviewing listed companies’ adherence to the corporate governance code in the domestic market. The report is published by more than one institution in eight jurisdictions (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia).
Importantly, Brazil, Poland, and South Africa for the first time report reviewing adherence to the corporate governance codes in this edition of the Factbook.
Almost two‑thirds of institutions issue these reports annually, which usually cover all listed companies and all code recommendations. Among surveyed jurisdictions, 15 of them do not issue a national report on corporate governance as of 2022, including India and the United States, which do not have a corporate governance code based on the “comply or explain” approach.
Overall, national regulators review listed companies’ adherence and publish these reports in 14 jurisdictions, while stock exchanges review and publish them in 12 jurisdictions. Although the role of national authorities in issuing these reports has not changed since 2021, more stock exchanges and private groups have taken this role. Notably, in jurisdictions that have started publishing a national report in the past two years, the responsibility has been assigned either to a stock exchange, such as the Warsaw Stock Exchange in Poland, or to private groups, for example KPMG in Brazil and the Institute of Directors/King Committee in South Africa. Exchanges and private groups are responsible for publishing reports on listed companies’ adherence to codes in more than a half of jurisdictions surveyed, a significant increase since 2015 when stock exchanges were responsible for issuing reports on codes in seven jurisdictions and private institutions in nine (Table 2.4, Figure 2.3).
2.2. The main public regulators of corporate governance
In all surveyed jurisdictions, public regulators have the authority to supervise and enforce the corporate governance practices of listed companies. Securities or financial regulators generally play the key role in most jurisdictions.
Public regulators have the authority to supervise and enforce corporate governance practices of listed companies in all surveyed jurisdictions. Securities regulators, financial regulators or a combination of the two play the lead or at least a shared role in 82% of all jurisdictions (Table 2.5, Figure 2.4). Central banks play the key role in an additional eight jurisdictions (16%).
A few jurisdictions take differing approaches. Korea is the only jurisdiction in which the ministry in charge of corporate governance is the Ministry of Justice. This ministry also has the main responsibility for the supervision and enforcement of corporate governance. In India, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the securities market regulator, are both responsible for enforcing the corporate governance framework. In some jurisdictions, such as the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Sweden, the role of the public regulators is limited only to issues related to securities laws, as in principle, civil rules on corporate governance are mainly supervised and enforced privately. The authority of corporate governance regulators has proven to be quite stable over the years and has not changed significantly since 2015.
In some jurisdictions, the division of responsibilities for regulatory and supervisory functions involves multiple layers. For example, in South Africa, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (“CIPC”) is responsible for company law and corporate governance requirements such as the functioning and composition of the audit committee, while the Johannesburg Stock Exchange enforces stock exchange listing requirements. In the United Kingdom, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets codes and standards including for corporate governance, but the FRC’s corporate governance monitoring and third country auditor registration activities are relevant to the work of and may lead to enforcement by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the United States, state law is the primary source of corporate governance law, but the federal securities regulator (the Securities and Exchange Commission) and exchanges regulate certain governance matters.
Autonomy over their budget can reinforce the operational independence of regulators. Sixty percent of regulators are funded fully by fees from regulated entities or by a combination of fees and fines. Others rely upon a mix of public and regulated entity funding sources, while just 17% of regulators are fully financed by their government’s budget.
Most regulators (30 institutions in 28 jurisdictions) are fully self-funded by fees. Other regulators (seven institutions) ensure budgetary autonomy by supplementing their self-funding with fines. Mixed sources of financing from both public funds and fees from regulated entities are also common (12 institutions in ten jurisdictions). Only ten regulatory institutions rely exclusively on government funding for their budget (Figure 2.5).
The G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance recognise and emphasise the importance of regulators’ autonomy, resources, and capacity as key aspects to allow them to carry out their functions in a professional and objective manner (Principle I.E). The revised Principles provide examples of how jurisdictions have achieved autonomy and collected adequate resources, for example by imposing levies on supervised entities with or as an alternative to government funding. The Principles, at the same time, underline that fees imposed on regulated entities should not impede independence from market participants and should be imposed transparently and according to objective criteria.
The issue of the independence of regulators is commonly addressed through the creation of a formal governing body. The most common size for the board of these bodies across jurisdictions surveyed is five to seven members, but it ranges from as low as two members (Austria) to as high as 17 (Switzerland).
The G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance note how the creation of a formal governing body, typically a board, council or commission, is the solution adopted by many jurisdictions to address political independence (Principle I.E).
In line with the recommendations of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, 87% of the regulatory institutions established by the Factbook jurisdictions have established a formal governing body (e.g. a board, council or commission) (Figure 2.6). Colombia, Korea, and Slovenia are the only regulators without a governing board for any of their regulatory bodies responsible for the supervision of corporate governance requirements. Four additional jurisdictions (India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa), which have more than one regulator, report a mixed approach with at least one regulatory institution lacking a governing body.
Seats on these governing bodies are sometimes reserved for representatives from specific institutions, such as central banks (in 20 governing bodies across 19 jurisdictions), public sector institutions (in 16 governing bodies across 15 jurisdictions) or from the private sector (in 12 bodies across 11 jurisdictions) (Table 2.7).
In the United States, no more than three out of five Commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission may belong to the same political party. In France, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has one of the largest boards with 16 members, including judges from the Supreme courts (Cour de Cassation and Conseil d’État). In Switzerland, the SIX Exchange Regulation (SER) division is overseen by a 17‑member board responsible for enforcement of SIX Exchange listing rules.
Members of the governing body of a national regulator are usually given fixed terms of appointment ranging from two to eight years, with all but four regulators allowing their re‑appointment.
According to the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, as revised in 2023, to foster regulatory independence, members of the governing body are appointed for fixed terms, and as an additional precaution, some jurisdictions have also staggered appointments to avoid overlaps with the political calendar. Another solution adopted by some jurisdictions to strengthen independence and reduce potential conflicts of interest of regulators is the introduction of policies to restrict post-employment movement to industry through mandatory time gaps or cooling-off periods (Principle I.E).
Members of a governing body or a regulatory head such as a commissioner or superintendent are appointed for fixed terms in 51 out of 56 institutions. Of the 49 Factbook jurisdictions, only four do not make fixed term appointments (SEHK’s Board in Hong Kong (China); FSA’s Commissioner in Japan; the Ministry of Justice governed by a Minister in Korea; and CNBV’s Governing Board in Mexico). When specified, maximum terms generally range from two to eight years, and most commonly are set at four or five years (for 10 and 20 institutions, respectively) (Table 2.8, Figure 2.7).
The re‑appointment of members is allowed in all jurisdictions that set fixed terms with the exception of Brazil, Italy, Peru and Portugal. The re‑appointment of the chairperson is not allowed in France and is allowed only once in Hungary for the Governor of the Financial Stability Board. The number of reappointments is limited to one in six additional jurisdictions (Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and Spain) and to two in one jurisdiction (the Netherlands).
Table 2.1. The main elements of the regulatory framework: Laws and regulations
Jurisdiction |
Company Law |
Securities Law |
Other relevant regulations on corporate governance |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Latest update |
Latest update |
||||||
Original language |
English |
Original language |
English |
||||
Argentina |
Companies Law |
2014 |
Capital Market Law No. 26831 |
||||
Australia |
Corporations Act 2001 |
||||||
Austria1 |
Commercial Code |
2019 |
Stock Corporation Act |
|
|||
Belgium1 |
Code of Companies and Associations |
2019 |
Law of 2 August 2002 |
|
|||
Brazil |
Corporation Act |
Securities Act |
|||||
Canada |
Federal (Canada Business Corporations Act) or provincial statutes |
2022 (federal) |
2022 (federal) |
Provincial securities laws (e.g. Securities Act in Ontario) |
- |
Canada Business Corporations Regulations (federal) plus provincial regulations |
|
Chile |
Corporations Law |
Securities Market Law |
|||||
China |
The Company Law of the People`s Republic of China |
- |
Securities Law of the People’s Republic of China |
- |
Code of Corporate Governance for Listed Companies in China; Regulations (CSRC) |
||
Colombia |
Commercial Code |
- |
Securities Market Law 964 |
- |
Rules, Instructions (SFC) |
||
Law 222 of 1995 |
|||||||
Costa Rica |
Code of Commerce |
- |
Regulatory Law of the Securities Market |
- |
|||
Czech Republic |
Business Corporations Act |
Capital Market Undertakings Act |
|
||||
Denmark |
Company Act |
Capital Markets Act |
2022 |
- |
Listing rules by Nasdaq Copenhagen: Rules for issuers of shares |
||
Financial Statements Act |
2019 |
||||||
Estonia |
Commercial Code |
Securities Market Act |
|||||
Finland |
Limited Liability Companies Act |
2022 |
2019 |
Securities Markets Act |
Listing rules by Nasdaq Helsinki Nordic Main Market Rulebook for Issuers of Shares Corporate Governance Code |
||
France |
2020 |
2013 |
Code monétaire et financier |
2020 |
|
||
Germany1 |
Commercial Code |
Securities Trading Act |
- |
||||
Stock Corporation Act |
|||||||
Greece |
Law 4548/2018 |
2018 |
Law 4449/2017 |
2020 2017 |
2020 |
HCMC Decision 1A/890/18.09.2020 on sanctions imposed under Article 24 of Law 4706/2020 HCMC Decision 1/891/30.09 2020 on the evaluation of the Internal Control System (ICS) and provisions on Corporate Governance of law 4706/2020 |
|
Hong Kong (China)1 |
Companies Ordinance |
Securities and Futures Ordinance |
|||||
Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance |
|||||||
Hungary |
Civil Code |
Act on the Capital Market |
|||||
Iceland |
Act on Annual Account |
Act on Markets in Financial Instruments no 115/2021 |
Act on Financial undertakings (161/2002), Act on Insurance activities (56/2010) Nasdaq Iceland Rules for Issuers |
||||
Act on Public Limited Companies |
2010 |
||||||
India |
Companies Act 2013 |
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act |
SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 |
||||
Securities Contract (Regulation) Act |
|||||||
Indonesia |
Company Law |
2007 |
2007 |
Capital Market Law |
1995 |
1995 |
|
Ireland |
Securities Markets Regulations |
2022 |
|||||
Funds Regulation |
2019 |
||||||
Israel |
Companies Law |
2018 |
2011 |
Securities Law |
2017 |
2017 |
Securities Regulations (ISA), Companies Regulations Ministry of Justice (MOJ) |
Italy |
Civil Code |
- |
Consolidated Law on Finance |
Regulations (Consob) |
|||
Japan |
The Companies Act |
2019 |
2022 |
Financial Instruments and Exchange Act |
2020 |
2020 |
Regulations (FSA) |
Korea |
2020 |
2018 |
Financial investment Services and Capital Markets Act |
2021 |
2021 |
||
Latvia |
2022 |
2021 |
2022 |
2021 |
|||
Lithuania |
Law on Companies |
2022 |
2014 (related changes 2017) |
Law on Securities |
|||
Luxembourg |
Companies Act |
2021 |
- |
Law on markets in financial instruments |
2021 |
- |
|
Malaysia |
2019 |
2019 |
2017 |
2017 |
|||
Guidelines on Conduct of Directors of Listed Corporations and their Subsidiaries (released in 2020)2 |
|||||||
2015 |
2015 |
Guidelines on Conduct for Capital Market Intermediaries (issued in 2021) |
|||||
2004 |
2004 |
||||||
Mexico |
General Law of Mercantile Corporations (Companies’ Law) |
2018 |
- |
Securities Market Law |
Rules applicable to Issuers (CNBV) Stock Exchanges Internal Rules & Regulations |
||
Netherlands |
Netherlands Civil Code |
2021 |
Act on Financial Supervision |
2020 |
|||
Act on the Supervision of Financial Reporting |
2019 |
||||||
New Zealand |
Companies Act 1993 |
Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 |
Financial Markets Conduct Regulations |
||||
Norway |
2022 |
Securities Trading Act |
|||||
Peru |
General Corporation Law |
2021 |
- |
Securities Market Law |
2020 |
Qualification on Independent Directors Guidelines Report on Compliance with the Code of Good Corporate Governance for Peruvian Corporations |
|
Poland |
Code of Commercial Companies |
2022 |
Act on Trading in Financial Instruments Act on Public Offer of Financial Instruments |
2022 |
|
||
Portugal |
Companies Code |
2022 |
Securities Law |
||||
Law 148/2015: Rules on board structure and duties of supervisory board members in public interest entities. |
|||||||
Saudi Arabia |
Companies Law |
2022 |
- |
Capital Market Law |
2003 |
2018 |
|
Singapore |
Companies Act |
2018 |
Securities and Futures Act |
SGX Listing Manual; Corporate governance regulations for banks, insurers and financial market infrastructures |
|||
Slovak Republic |
Commercial Code |
- |
Act on Securities |
2022 |
- |
||
Act on Stock Exchange |
|||||||
Slovenia1 |
Companies Act |
Market in Financial Instruments Act |
|||||
South Africa |
Companies Act |
2008 |
2011 |
2012 |
2012 |
||
Spain |
Capital Company Act |
Securities Market Law |
Regulations (CNMV); Good Governance Code of Listed Companies |
||||
Sweden |
Companies Act |
2006 |
The EU Market Abuse Regulation |
2016 |
Self-regulation (Rulebook for issuers, Corporate Governance Code, Securities Council’s statements) SFSA’s regulations |
||
Securities Market Act |
2007 |
||||||
Financial Instruments Trading Act |
1991 |
||||||
Financial Instruments Trading (Market Abuse Penalties) Act |
2017 |
||||||
Switzerland3 |
The Code of Obligations (CO) |
Financial Market Infrastructure Act |
2021 |
2021 |
Laws, Ordinances, Circulars, Self-regulation (FINMA) |
||
Regulations of the Swiss Stock Exchange |
|||||||
Türkiye |
2022 |
- |
2021 |
2020 |
|||
United Kingdom |
Companies Act of 2006 |
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
Listing Rules, Prospectus Rules, Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (FCA) |
||||
United States |
State corporate laws |
- |
Securities Act of 1933 |
||||
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
Key: “-” = no data available. The online version of the publication contains links to websites and reports where available.
1. Regarding takeover bids, some jurisdictions (e.g. Austria, Belgium, Germany and Slovenia) set out a separate legal framework, while Hong Kong (China) has a non-statutory code.
2. In Malaysia, the Guidelines on Conduct of Directors of Listed Corporations and their Subsidiaries were updated on 12 April 2021 to include guidance on the group governance framework.
3. In Switzerland, the amendments of the Code of Obligations (CO) and to the Regulations of the Swiss Stock Exchange entered into force on 1 January 2023.
Table 2.2. The main elements of the regulatory framework: National codes and principles
Jurisdiction |
Key national corporate governance codes and principles |
Implementation mechanism |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basis for framework |
Approach1 |
Disclosure in annual company report |
Surveillance |
||
Argentina |
Law or regulation |
Apply or not, explain2 |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Australia |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Austria |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
||
Belgium |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Brazil |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator & stock exchange |
|
Canada |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
||
Chile |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain3 |
Other |
Securities regulator |
|
Contents of Corporate Annual Report. Rule No.30 amended by Rule No. 461 of CMF |
Law or regulation |
Explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
China |
The Code of Corporate Governance for Listed Companies in China 2018 |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Binding |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
Colombia |
Law or regulation4 |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Costa Rica |
Law or regulation |
Binding & Comply or explain5 |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Czech Republic |
Voluntary |
Comply or explain |
Required |
- |
|
Denmark |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator, Stock exchange |
|
Estonia |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator, Stock exchange & Private |
|
Finland |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange & Securities regulator |
|
France |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Private & Securities regulator |
|
Germany |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Different stakeholders appointed by Government |
|
Greece |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
||
Hong Kong (China) |
Corporate Governance Code (Appendix 14 of the Main Board Listing Rules / Appendix 15 of the GEM Listing Rules) |
Listing rule |
Binding & Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
Hungary |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Corporate Governance Committee & Stock Exchange |
|
Iceland |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
India |
SEBI (listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirement) Regulations, 2015 |
Law or regulation |
Binding |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
Indonesia |
Voluntary |
Apply or explain |
Not Required |
- |
|
Corporate Governance Guidelines of Public companies- OJK Regulation 21/2015, OJK Circular Letter 32/2015 |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Ireland |
Irish Stock Exchange Listing Rules applying UK Corporate Governance Code with Irish Annex |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
- |
Israel6 |
Code of recommended corporate governance embedded in Companies Law |
Law or regulation |
Other and Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
Italy |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator, Stock exchange & Private |
|
Japan |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Korea |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Other7 |
Stock exchange |
|
Latvia |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Lithuania |
The Corporate Governance Code for the Companies Listed on Nasdaq Vilnius |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
Luxembourg |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Malaysia |
Listing rule |
Apply or explain an alternative |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
|
Mexico |
Code of Principles and Best Practices in Corporate Governance (Corporate Governance Code) |
Law or regulation, Listing rule8 |
Binding (partly) |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
Netherlands |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
New Zealand |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Norway |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
- |
|
Peru |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Poland |
Voluntary |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Portugal |
Corporate Governance Code of the Portuguese Institute of Corporate Governance (IPCG) |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Privation institution |
Saudi Arabia |
Law or regulation |
Binding & Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Singapore |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
|
Slovak Republic |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock Exchange, Private institution (Slovak Corporate Governance Association) |
|
Slovenia |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
|
South Africa |
King Code IV |
Listing rule |
Apply and explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
Spain |
Law or regulation |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
Sweden |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required but can be a separate document |
Stock exchange |
|
Switzerland |
Voluntary |
Comply or explain |
‑9 |
- |
|
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Stock exchange |
||
Türkiye |
Law or regulation |
Binding & Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
United Kingdom |
Listing rule |
Comply or explain |
Required |
Securities regulator |
|
United States |
Law or regulation, Listing rule |
Binding |
Required |
Securities regulator & Stock exchange |
|
Binding |
Required |
Key: “-” = no data available. The online version of the publication contains links to websites and reports where available.
1. Jurisdictions have opted for different formulations to specify the application of their corporate governance code(s) or equivalent framework, which range from binding, mixed or non-binding (soft law) approaches. Soft law approaches are generally referred to as “comply or explain” but also include different formulations such as “Apply or explain”, “Apply or explain an alternative”, and “Apply and explain”.
2. In Argentina, a company may decide not to apply a recommendation and still be in compliance with good practices. This approach looks to recognise heterogeneity among industries and companies and to provide broader means to comply with best practices.
3. In Chile, although there is no Corporate Governance Code, there is a regulatory requirement for disclosure that the Chilean regulator considers to function similarly to a code, namely the CMF General Rule No. 385. This provision requires listed companies to perform an annual self-assessment with regard to the adoption of good practices of corporate governance proposed by the CMF, and report to the CMF on a “comply or explain” basis. Although it is not required to include this information in the annual report, it is made available to the public through the Regulator´s and listed companies’ websites. In addition, in November 2021 the CMF issued General Rule No. 461, which modifies General Rule No. 30 to include topics of Sustainability and Corporate Governance to the corporate annual report of securities issuers and other entities supervised by the CMF. This General Rule will be gradually phased in between 2022 and 2024, according to the type of entity and its size (measured by consolidated assets). In this regard, the disclosure requirements for the adoption of Corporate Governance Practices will be contained in the report of General Rule No. 385 and the annual report until 2024, and General Rule No. 385 will then be repealed when General Rule No. 461 enters fully in force.
4. In Colombia, the Código País recommendations are adopted on a voluntary basis by issuers; however, disclosure against the code is required by regulation, and once practices are reported as adopted, they become mandatory. Issuers have to include in their internal codes a clause under which the firm, its directors and employees are required to comply with the recommendations that were voluntarily adopted, as well as to submit the Código País Implementation Report to the SFC annually.
5. In Costa Rica, the CONASSIF Corporate Governance Regulation is mandatory to implement but based on a “comply and explain” rule. It is classified as “binding and comply or explain” due to some flexibility provided in implementing some measures according to proportionality considerations (See Box 2.1 on country examples for more details).
6. In Israel, the corporate governance code has both binding and voluntary recommendations embedded in its Companies Law, and which companies must report on based on the comply or explain approach.
7. In Korea, KOSPI listed companies with total assets of more than KRW 1 trillion are required to disclose a stand-alone corporate governance report annually no later than last day of May.
8. In Mexico, listed companies must disclose their degree of adherence to the Code to both the Stock Exchange and investors (See Box 2.1 on country examples for more details).
9. In Switzerland, the Code states that it uses the “comply or explain” principle, but it does not indicate where the company has to explain whether its corporate governance practices deviate from the recommendations.
Table 2.3. The custodians of national codes and principles
Jurisdiction |
Custodians |
First code |
Updates |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Public/private/stock exchange/mixed initiative) |
No. |
Latest |
|||
Argentina |
Public |
2007 |
1 |
2019 |
|
Australia |
Mixed |
2003 |
4 |
2019 |
|
Austria |
Private |
2002 |
10 |
2021 |
|
Public |
|||||
Belgium |
Mixed |
2004 |
3 |
2020 |
|
Brazil |
Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) |
Private |
2016 |
- |
2016 |
Canada |
Provincial stock exchanges, e.g. Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX) |
Exchange |
|
|
2014 |
Chile |
Public |
2012 |
2 |
2021 |
|
China |
Public |
2002 |
- |
2018 |
|
Colombia |
Public |
2007 |
1 |
2014 |
|
Costa Rica |
National Council of Supervision of the Financial System (CONASSIF) |
Public |
2017 |
- |
2017 |
Czech Republic |
Private |
2001 |
2 |
2018 |
|
Denmark |
Public |
2001 |
10 |
2020 |
|
Estonia |
Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (EFSA) |
Public |
2005 |
|
2006 |
Exchange |
|||||
Finland |
Private |
1997 |
5 |
2020 |
|
France |
Private |
2003 |
|
2020 |
|
2016 |
2016 |
||||
Germany |
Mixed |
2002 |
|
2022 |
|
Greece |
Private |
2013 |
|
2021 |
|
Hong Kong (China) |
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) |
Exchange |
2005 |
6 |
2022 |
Hungary |
Corporate Governance Committee (Established by the Budapest Stock Exchange Company Limited) |
Exchange |
2004 |
|
2020 |
Iceland |
Public |
2004 |
6 |
2021 |
|
Private |
|||||
India |
Public |
2000 |
18 |
2020 |
|
Recognised Stock Exchanges |
Exchange |
||||
Indonesia |
Indonesia National Committee on Governance Policy |
Mixed Public |
2015 |
- |
2015 |
Ireland |
Irish Stock Exchange (following UK Financial Reporting Council recommendations) |
Mixed |
2003 |
|
2018 |
Israel |
Public |
1999 |
34 |
2020 |
|
Italy |
Mixed |
1999 |
7 |
2020 |
|
Japan |
Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and other local stock exchanges |
Exchange |
2015 |
2 |
2021 |
Korea |
Korea Exchange (KRX); Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability (KCGS) |
Exchange |
2019 |
2 |
2022 |
Latvia |
Mixed |
2005 |
- |
2020 |
|
Lithuania |
Exchange |
2006 |
2 |
2019 |
|
Luxembourg |
Exchange |
2007 |
4 |
2017 |
|
Malaysia |
Public |
2000 |
4 |
2021 |
|
Mexico |
Business Coordinating Council (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial) |
Private |
1999 |
3 |
|
Netherlands |
Mixed |
2003 |
3 |
2022 |
|
New Zealand |
Exchange |
2003 |
- |
2020 |
|
Public |
2004 |
- |
2018 |
||
Norway |
Private |
2005 |
9 |
2021 |
|
Peru |
Mixed |
2002 |
1 |
2013 |
|
Poland |
Exchange |
2002 |
|
2021 |
|
Portugal |
Private |
2013 |
1 |
2020 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Public |
2006 |
4 |
2021 |
|
Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) |
|||||
Public |
2015 |
1 |
- |
||
Principles of Corporate Governance for Banks Operating in Saudi Arabia 2014 |
Public |
2014 |
1 |
- |
|
Singapore |
Public |
2001 |
3 |
2018 |
|
Exchange |
|||||
Slovak Republic |
Mixed |
2002 |
2 |
2016 |
|
Slovenia |
Exchange |
2004 |
8 |
2022 |
|
Private |
2016 |
2022 |
|||
Private |
2014 |
1 |
2021 |
||
Public |
2016 |
2022 |
|||
Public |
|||||
Private |
|||||
South Africa |
Institute of Directors |
Private |
1994 |
4 |
2016 |
Spain |
Public |
1998 |
5 |
2020 |
|
Sweden |
Private |
2005 |
6 |
2020 |
|
Switzerland1 |
Private |
2002 |
3 |
2023 |
|
Private |
2002 |
7 |
2023 |
||
Türkiye |
Public |
2003 |
5 |
2020 |
|
United Kingdom |
Public |
2003 |
|
2018 |
|
United States |
Exchange |
2003 |
|
2022 |
|
Exchange |
2003 |
|
2022 |
1. In Switzerland, the updates to the Corporate Governance Code entered into force on 1 January 2023.
Table 2.4. National reports on corporate governance
Jurisdiction |
Issuing body |
Publication |
Key contents |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R: Securities/Corporate Governance Regulator S: Stock exchange P: Private institution M: Mixed |
Frequency (years) |
Latest |
Corporate governance landscape |
Evaluation of the “Comply or Explain” practices |
|||
Coverage of the listed companies |
Coverage of the provisions of codes |
||||||
Argentina |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Australia |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Austria |
P |
Austrian Working Group for Corporate Governance |
1 |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
Belgium |
R |
1 |
2019 |
Yes |
Fully |
Partly |
|
P |
1 |
2017 |
Yes |
BEL20, mid & small |
Fully |
||
Brazil |
P |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Mostly |
Fully |
|
Canada |
R |
National Policy Instrument 58‑201 |
1 |
2005 |
National policy |
N/A |
N/A |
P |
Institute of Corporate Directors 2022 Study “Chart the Future” |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Partially |
N/A |
|
Chile |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
China |
M |
CAPCO |
- |
2014 |
Yes |
Partly |
Mostly |
Colombia |
R |
SFC |
1 |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
Costa Rica |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Czech Republic |
|||||||
Denmark1 |
M |
NASDAQ Copenhagen A/S and Committee on Corporate Governance |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
S |
Occasional2 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|||
Estonia |
R |
EFSA |
Occasional |
Yes |
Fully |
Mostly |
|
Finland |
M |
Chamber of Commerce |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
France |
R |
AMF |
1 |
Yes |
Partly (50) |
Fully |
|
P |
AFEP and MEDEF (via a High Committee on Corporate Governance, HCGE) |
1 |
Yes |
SBF 120 |
Fully |
||
Germany |
P |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
Greece |
|||||||
Hong Kong (China) |
S |
2‑3 |
Yes |
Partly (400 companies) |
Fully |
||
Hungary |
S |
Corporate Governance Committee |
1 |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
Iceland |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
India |
|||||||
Indonesia |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Ireland |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Israel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Italy |
R |
1 |
Yes |
- |
- |
||
M |
1 |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
P |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|||
Japan |
S |
2 |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Korea |
S |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully; partly for KOSPI listed companies |
Fully |
|
Latvia |
S |
- |
2015 |
Yes |
Fully |
Mostly |
|
Lithuania |
R |
Bank of Lithuania (LB) |
Occasional |
Yes |
Fully |
Mostly |
|
S |
Occasional |
2021 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
Luxembourg |
S |
1 |
2018 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Malaysia |
R |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
Mexico |
P |
2‑3 |
2018 |
Yes |
Mostly |
Mostly |
|
S |
1 |
2022 |
|||||
Netherlands |
M |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
New Zealand |
|||||||
Norway |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Peru |
R |
1 |
20223 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Poland |
S |
Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) |
1 |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
Portugal |
R |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
P |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|||
Saudi Arabia |
R |
1 |
- |
Fully |
Mostly |
||
Singapore |
S |
- |
2016 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Slovak Republic |
P |
- |
Partly |
Partly |
|||
Slovenia |
P |
- |
2022 |
- |
Fully |
Fully |
|
S |
- |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
South Africa |
P |
Ad hoc |
2022 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Spain |
R |
1 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
||
Sweden |
P |
1 |
2019 |
Yes |
Fully |
Fully |
|
Switzerland |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Türkiye |
R |
- |
20205 |
Yes |
Partly6 |
Mostly |
|
United Kingdom |
R |
1 |
Yes |
FTSE 350 & small |
Mostly |
||
United States |
Key: R = Securities/Corporate Governance Regulator; S = Stock exchange; P = Private institution; M = Mixed.
1. In Denmark, the joint report prepared by Nasdaq and the Committee on Corporate Governance is more comprehensive than the Nasdaq report, as it collects additional data and includes some focus areas that differ from year to year.
2. In Denmark, the Nasdaq report is published every year, but has included information regarding corporate governance only three times in the last 12 years.
3. In Peru, in addition to publishing an annual report on the Corporate Governance Code results, since 2019, the SMV has published on its web portal a tool that systematises and allows reviewing the answers to the “YES-NO” questions of the “Report on Compliance with the Code of Good Corporate Governance for Peruvian Corporations” submitted by each issuer.
4. In Portugal, the Portuguese Institute of Corporate Governance (IPCG) publishes a monitoring report on how listed companies disclose matters relating to the adoption of the Code. Since 2022 the CMVM publishes an annual report with the main conclusions on the integration of sustainability factors in the activity of Portuguese listed companies, which includes a chapter dedicated to the information disclosed by companies regarding corporate governance.
5. In Türkiye, the Monitoring Report has analysed the compliance status and the quality of the explanations provided by the BIST 100 companies for non-mandatory Corporate Governance Principles annexed to the Communiqué on Corporate Governance (II‑17.1), which were disclosed under CRF (Compliance Report Format).
6. In Türkiye, the companies whose shares are traded on the BIST Star Market and BIST Main Market are required to disclose their compliance status and explanations for non-mandatory principles in line with the comply or explain approach. However, for the Report, the companies traded on BIST 100 indices were designated as the sample group.
Table 2.5. The main public regulators of corporate governance
Jurisdiction |
Main public regulators |
|
---|---|---|
Argentina |
CNV |
|
Australia |
ASIC |
|
Austria |
FMA |
|
Belgium |
FSMA |
|
Brazil |
CVM |
|
Canada |
OSC |
Provincial securities commissions (e.g. Ontario Securities Commission) |
Chile |
CMF |
|
China |
CSRC |
|
SASAC |
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission |
|
MOF |
||
Colombia |
SFC |
|
Costa Rica |
SUGEVAL |
|
Czech Republic |
CNB1 |
|
Denmark |
DFSA |
|
Estonia |
EFSA |
|
Finland |
FIN-FSA |
|
France |
AMF |
|
Germany |
BaFin |
|
Greece |
HCMC |
|
Hong Kong (China) |
SFC SEHK |
Securities and Futures Commission The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited |
Hungary |
CBH |
|
Iceland |
CBI |
The Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central bank of Iceland |
India |
SEBI |
|
MCA |
||
Indonesia |
IFSA (OJK) |
Indonesia Financial Services Authority |
Ireland |
CBI |
|
Israel |
ISA |
|
Italy |
CONSOB |
|
Japan |
FSA |
|
SESC |
||
Korea |
MOJ2 |
|
Latvia |
LVB |
|
Lithuania |
LB |
|
Luxembourg |
CSSF1 |
Financial Sector Supervisory Commission |
Malaysia |
SCM |
|
Mexico |
CNBV |
National Banking and Securities Commission |
Netherlands |
AFM1 |
Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets |
New Zealand |
FMA |
|
Norway |
NFSA |
|
Peru |
SMV |
|
Poland |
KNF |
|
Portugal |
CMVM |
|
Saudi Arabia |
CMA |
Capital Market Authority |
MCI |
||
SAMA |
Central Bank |
|
Singapore |
MAS1 |
|
ACRA1 |
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority |
|
Slovak Republic |
NBS |
|
Slovenia |
ATVP |
|
South Africa |
CIPC |
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission |
FSCA |
Financial Sector Conduct Authority Exchanges |
|
Spain |
CNMV |
|
Sweden |
FI/SFSA1 |
Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Financial Reporting) |
Switzerland |
SER |
|
Türkiye |
CMB |
|
United Kingdom |
FCA |
|
United States |
SEC |
1. In the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore and Sweden, the public regulator is concerned with matters in relation to the securities law, while in principle civil rules on corporate governance are mainly supervised and enforced privately.
2. In Korea, the ministry in charge of company law is also substantially responsible for the enforcement of corporate governance issues.
Table 2.6. Budget and funding of the main public regulator of corporate governance
Jurisdiction |
Key regulators |
Form of funding |
Main funding resource |
Budget approval by: |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National budget (NB) |
Fines from wrongdoers |
Fees from regulated entities |
Government |
Legislative body |
|||
Argentina |
CNV |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Australia |
ASIC |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Austria |
FMA |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
|
|
Belgium |
FSMA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
|
|
Brazil |
CVM |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
Required |
Required |
Canada (Provinces e.g. Ontario) |
OSC |
Self |
● |
|
|
||
Chile1 |
CMF |
Public |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
China |
CSRC |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
Required |
|
Colombia |
SFC |
Self |
- |
● |
● |
Required |
Required |
Costa Rica |
SUGEVAL |
Public & Self2 |
● |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Czech Republic |
CNB |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Denmark |
DFSA |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
|
Required |
DBA |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
||
Estonia |
EFSA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Finland |
FIN-FSA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
France |
AMF |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Germany |
BaFin |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
|
Greece |
HCMC |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Not required |
Hong Kong (China) |
SFC |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
SEHK |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
|
Hungary |
CBH |
Self3 |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
India |
SEBI |
Self |
- |
(to NB) |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
MCA |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
|
|
|
Indonesia |
IFSA (OJK) |
Public &Self |
● |
● |
● |
Not required |
Required |
Iceland |
CBI |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Required |
Ireland |
CBI |
Self |
- |
● |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Israel |
ISA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Italy |
CONSOB |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
|
Japan |
FSA |
Public |
● |
(to NB) |
- |
Required |
Required |
SESC |
Public |
● |
(to NB) |
- |
Required |
Required |
|
Korea |
MOJ |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
Required |
Required |
Latvia |
LVB |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Lithuania |
LB |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Luxembourg |
CSSF |
Self |
- |
● |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Malaysia |
SCM |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Mexico |
CNBV |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
Required |
Required |
Netherlands |
AFM |
Self |
- |
● |
● |
Required |
|
New Zealand |
FMA |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Norway |
NFSA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Not required |
Peru |
SMV |
Self4 |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Poland |
KNF |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Portugal |
CMVM |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Saudi Arabia |
CMA |
Public & Self5 |
- |
● |
● |
Not required |
N/A |
MCI |
Public |
● |
- |
- |
Required |
N/A |
|
SAMA |
Public & Self |
- |
● |
● |
Not required |
N/A |
|
Singapore |
MAS |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
|
|
ACRA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
|||
Slovak Republic |
NBS |
Self6 |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Slovenia |
ATVP |
Self |
- |
● |
● |
Required |
Not required |
South Africa |
CIPC |
Public & Self |
● |
● |
● |
Required |
Required |
FSCA |
Self |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
||
Exchange |
Self |
- |
● |
||||
Spain |
CNMV |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
Sweden |
FI/SFSA |
Public & Self |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Not required |
Switzerland |
SER |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
Türkiye |
CMB |
Self |
‑7 |
-8 |
● |
Required |
Required |
United Kingdom |
FCA |
Self |
- |
- |
● |
Not required |
Not required |
United States |
SEC |
Public9 |
● |
- |
● |
Required |
Required |
1. In Chile, per Art. 33 of CMF’s Organic Law supervised entities should pay fees for inscriptions and modifications in registries, authorisations, and certificates, excluding entities that, according to Art. 8 of the General Banking Act, should pay supervisory fees.
2. In Costa Rica, a 2019 amendment to the Law Regulating the Securities Market and other related laws, achieved by Law 9746, changed SUGEVAL’s funding from an 80%/20% split between the Central Bank and regulated entities to a 50% – 50% split. Starting in 2024, compulsory contributions of regulated entities will increase by 7.5% annually until 50% is achieved in 2027.
3. In Hungary, according to the Central Bank Act, in exceptional circumstances, where the amount of equity falls below the subscribed capital at the end of the year under review, the difference shall be directly reimbursed from the State’s central budget to the retained earnings within five years, in equal instalments every year, within 30 days of the shareholders receipt of the notification of the report of the year under review.
4. In Peru, the SMV´s Organic Law includes the possibility of obtaining funding resources from the Central Government and fines from wrongdoers; nevertheless, the main source of resources of the SMV is the income from the contributions of issuers and authorised entities.
5. In Saudi Arabia, the Capital Market Law (CML) states that government funds may be used as a source of financial resources for the CMA. However, this has not been the case in practice and the CMA remains fully self-funded from fees for services and commissions charged by the authority and fines and financial penalties imposed on violators.
6. In the Slovak Republic, the budget of the NBS is separate from the state budget, and the annual profit or loss of the NBS is not included in the general government budget.
7. In Türkiye, when CMB funds are insufficient to meet the expenditures, under the Capital Market Law the deficit can be financed by the Treasury budget, although no deficit has been reported since 1992.
8. In Türkiye, for fines imposed by CMB, 50% is registered as income in the national budget and the remaining 50% is transferred to the Investor Compensation Center (Fund).
9. In the United States, the SEC receives fees from regulated entities but Congress determines the SEC’s funding. The amount of funding received is offset by fees collected.
Table 2.7. Size and composition of the governing body/head of the main public regulator of corporate governance
Jurisdiction |
Key regulators |
Governing body/head |
Composition |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Members incl. Chair (current) |
Representatives from specific bodies |
||||||
Government |
Central Bank |
Others public |
Others private |
||||
Argentina |
CNV |
Board of Directors |
5 |
● |
- |
- |
- |
Australia |
ASIC |
Commission |
3‑8 (4) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Austria |
FMA |
Executive Board |
2 |
||||
Belgium |
FSMA |
Management Committee |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Brazil |
CVM |
Board of Commissioners |
5 |
||||
Canada (Provinces e.g. Ontario) |
OSC1 |
Commission or Board of Directors |
9‑16 (9) |
||||
Chile |
CMF |
The Board |
5 |
● |
- |
- |
- |
China |
CSRC |
Commission |
5 |
● |
- |
- |
- |
Colombia |
SFC |
Superintendent Minister of Finance and Public Credit |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Costa Rica |
SUGEVAL |
CONASSIF (Board of Directors) |
7 |
● |
● |
- |
● |
Czech Republic |
CNB |
Bank Board |
7 |
- |
● |
- |
- |
Denmark |
DFSA |
Board of directors |
9 |
- |
● |
● |
● |
Estonia |
EFSA |
Management Board |
3‑5 (4) |
||||
Finland |
FIN-FSA |
Board |
6 |
- |
● |
● |
● |
France |
AMF |
Board |
16 |
● |
● |
● |
● |
Germany |
BaFin |
Executive Board |
7 |
● |
● |
||
Greece |
HCMC |
Board of Directors |
7 |
● |
● |
● |
|
Hong Kong (China) |
SFC |
Board of Directors |
15 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
SEHK |
Board of Directors |
13 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hungary |
CBH |
Financial Stability Board2 |
3‑10 |
- |
● |
● |
- |
Iceland |
CBI |
Financial Supervision Committee |
5‑7 |
● |
● |
- |
- |
India |
SEBI |
The Board |
9 |
● |
● |
● |
- |
MCA |
The Minister |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Indonesia |
IFSA (OJK) |
Board of Commissioners |
9 |
● |
● |
● |
- |
Ireland |
CBI |
Commission |
10 |
● |
● |
- |
- |
Israel |
ISA |
Commissioners |
5‑13(10) |
● |
● |
● |
|
Italy |
CONSOB |
Commission |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Japan |
FSA |
Commissioner |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
SESC |
Commission |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Korea |
MOJ |
Minister |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Latvia |
LVB |
Board |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Lithuania |
LB |
Board |
5 |
- |
●3 |
- |
- |
Luxembourg |
CSSF |
Board and Executive Board |
12 |
||||
Malaysia |
SCM |
Board of Commission |
6 |
● |
- |
- |
● |
Mexico |
CNBV |
Governing Board |
13 |
● |
● |
● |
- |
Netherlands |
AFM |
Executive Board |
3‑5 (3) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
New Zealand |
FMA |
Board |
5‑9 |
||||
Norway |
NFSA |
Board |
5 |
- |
- |
● |
- |
Peru |
SMV |
Board of Directors4 |
4 |
● |
● |
● |
- |
Poland |
KNF |
Commission |
13 |
● |
● |
● |
- |
Portugal |
CMVM |
Management Board |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Saudi Arabia |
CMA |
Board of Commissioners |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
MCI |
Minister |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
SAMA |
Board of Directors |
5 |
- |
● |
- |
● |
|
Singapore |
MAS |
Board |
12 |
● |
● |
● |
● |
ACRA |
Board |
14 |
● |
● |
● |
● |
|
Slovak Republic |
NBS |
Bank Board |
6 (5) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Slovenia |
ATVP |
Director5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
South Africa |
CIPC |
Commissioner |
- |
● |
- |
- |
- |
FSCA |
Executive Committee6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Spain |
CNMV |
Board |
8 |
● |
● |
||
Sweden |
FI/SFSA |
Board |
8 |
- |
- |
● |
● |
Switzerland |
SER |
Regulatory Board |
17 |
- |
- |
- |
● |
Türkiye |
CMB |
Board |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
United Kingdom |
FCA |
Board |
7 |
● |
● |
- |
- |
United States |
SEC |
Commission |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1. In Canada, the governing body/head and its composition varies across the provinces. In Ontario, the OSC is governed by its Board of Directors. There may be a maximum of 12 board directors and a minimum of four (which includes the Chair and CEO).
2. In Hungary, the supreme decision-making body of CBH is the Monetary Council; the Monetary Council shall define the strategic framework within which the Financial Stability Council makes its decisions.
3. In Lithuania, the Law on Bank of Lithuania does not provide any specific requirements on composition (having representatives from specific bodies) of the regulators’ board. The Chairperson of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania (LB) shall be appointed and dismissed by the Parliament on the recommendation of the President of the Republic. Deputy Chairpersons and Members of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic on the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Board of the LB.
4. In Peru, the SMV’s Board of Directors is made up of the Superintendent of Securities Market acting as the Chair, and four other directors appointed by the government by means of a Supreme Decree signed by the Minister of Economy and Finance. One candidate is proposed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, one by the Central Bank of Peru and one by the Superintendence of Banks, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Management Companies (SBS). In addition, for the remaining seat to be filled by an independent director, the SMV submits a shortlist of candidates to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which after assessment, sends a proposal to the President of the Republic for the appointment of the independent director.
5. In Slovenia, the Director of the ATVP represents and manages the operations and organises the work of the Agency. A Council composed of five members has oversight function and is competent for adopting the Rules of Procedure of the Agency and the implementing of regulations issued by the Agency, as well as deciding on licences, approvals and other individual matters, unless otherwise stipulated by law.
6. In South Africa, the FSCA’s Executive Committee is comprised by the Commissioner and three Deputy Commissioners.
Table 2.8. Terms of office and appointment of the governing body/head of the main public regulator of corporate governance
Jurisdiction |
Key regulators |
Ruling body in charge of corporate governance |
Term of members (in years) |
Re‑appointment |
Nomination or Appointment by: |
Approval by Legislative body |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina |
CNV |
Board of Directors |
5 |
Allowed |
National Executive Power |
Required |
Australia |
ASIC |
Commission |
Up to 5 |
Allowed |
Governor-General |
Not required |
Austria |
FMA |
Executive Board |
Fixed |
|
President |
|
Belgium |
FSMA |
Management Committee |
6 |
Allowed |
Royal Decree |
|
Brazil |
CVM |
Board of Commissioners |
5 |
Not allowed |
President |
Required |
Canada (Provinces e.g. Ontario) |
Provincial securities regulators (OSC)1 |
Commission/ Board of Directors |
Fixed |
Allowed |
Lieutenant Governor in Council |
Not required |
Chile |
CMF |
The Board |
4 (Chair) 6 (Com- missioners) |
Allowed |
President with Senate’s ratification (except for Chair) |
Required |
China |
CSRC |
Commission |
5 |
Allowed |
The State Council |
Not required |
Colombia |
SFC |
Superintendent |
4 |
Allowed |
President |
Not required |
Costa Rica |
SUGEVAL |
CONASSIF (Board of Directors) |
5 |
Only once |
Board of the Central Bank nominates 5 members (Chair is appointed, among them) President nominates the other 2 members (Minister of Finance and President of the Central Bank) |
Not required |
Czech Republic |
CNB |
Bank Board |
6 |
Only once |
President |
Not required |
Denmark |
DFSA |
Board of Directors |
2 |
Allowed |
Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs |
|
Estonia |
EFSA |
Management Board |
3 4 (Chair) |
Allowed |
Supervisory Board of EFSA |
Not required |
Finland |
FIN-FSA |
Board |
3 |
Allowed |
Parliamentary Supervisory Council |
|
France |
AMF |
Board |
5 |
Not allowed for chair (only once for members) |
Ministry of Finance, Parliament and other public bodies (each independently appoints one or more members, in some cases after consulting with private bodies) |
Not required |
Germany |
BaFin |
Executive Board |
5 |
Allowed |
Ministry of Finance |
|
Greece |
HCMC |
Board of Directors |
5 |
Allowed |
Minister of Economy and Finance |
Required |
Hong Kong (China) |
SFC |
Board of Directors |
Fixed |
Allowed |
Chief Executive of the HKSAR or the Financial Secretary under delegated authority HKEX (as the SEHK’s sole member) |
Not required |
SEHK |
Board |
Not fixed |
Allowed |
Not required |
||
Hungary |
CBH |
Financial Stability Board2 |
6 (Governor and Vice Governors) Not fixed (managers) |
Allowed once (Governor) Allowed (other members) |
The president of the republic on the proposal of the prime minister (Governor, Vice Governors) Governor (managers) |
Not required |
Iceland |
CBI |
Financial Supervisory Committee |
5 |
Allowed |
Minister of Economic Affairs (3 members) Central Bank of Iceland (2 members) |
Not required |
India |
SEBI |
The Board |
3‑5 |
Allowed |
Central Government |
Not required |
MCA |
The Minister |
|
|
|
||
Indonesia |
IFSA (OJK) |
Board of Commissioner |
5 |
Allowed |
President |
Required |
Ireland |
CBI |
Commission |
3‑5 |
Allowed once |
Governor (chair) is nominated by Government and appointed by President. Other members (not incl.3 CBI & Dpt. Finance members) appointed by Minister of Finance |
|
Israel |
ISA |
Commissioners |
3 |
Allowed |
Minister of Finance |
- |
Italy |
CONSOB |
Commission |
7 |
Not allowed |
President of the Republic after a proposal of the Prime Minister |
Opinion |
Japan |
FSA |
Commissioner |
Not fixed |
- |
Prime Minister |
|
SESC |
Commission |
3 |
Allowed |
Prime Minister |
Required |
|
Korea |
MOJ |
The Minister |
Not fixed |
Allowed |
President (upon recommendation of the Prime Minister) |
Not required |
Latvia |
LVB |
Board |
5 |
Allowed |
Chair is nominated by the government. Other members are appointed by the Chair in co‑operation with the Minister of Finance and the Council of the Central Bank. |
Required |
Lithuania |
LB |
Board |
5 (Chair) 6 (Other board members) |
Allowed |
Chair is nominated by the President and appointed by the Parliament Other members are nominated by the Chair and appointed by the President |
Required for the Chair |
Luxembourg |
CSSF |
Executive Board |
5 |
Allowed |
Grand Duke on the basis of a proposal from the government in Council |
|
Malaysia |
SCM |
Board of Commission |
3 (Chair) 2 (Other members) |
Allowed |
Minister of Finance |
Not required |
Mexico |
CNBV |
Governing Board |
Not fixed |
- |
Ministry of Finance |
Not required |
Central Bank, Commission for Pension Funds and Commission for Insurance and Sureties. |
||||||
Netherlands |
AFM |
Executive Board |
4 |
Only twice |
Royal Decree |
|
New Zealand |
FMA |
Board |
5 |
Allowed |
Governor-General |
|
Norway |
NFSA |
Board |
4‑6 (Chair) 4 (Other members) |
|
King in Council |
|
Minister of Finance |
||||||
Peru |
SMV |
Board of Directors |
6 |
Not allowed |
Government |
Not required |
Poland |
KNF |
Commission |
5 (Chair only) |
Allowed |
Prime Minister (Chair and Vice‑Chairs) and other respective institutions |
|
Portugal |
CMVM |
Board of Directors |
6 |
Not allowed |
Council of Ministers’ Resolution |
Required3 |
Saudi Arabia |
CMA |
Board of Commissioners |
5 |
Only once |
Royal Order |
|
MCI |
Minister |
4 |
Allowed |
Royal Order |
|
|
SAMA |
Board of Directors |
4 (Governor and Vice‑Governor) 5 (other members) |
Allowed |
Royal Order |
||
Singapore |
MAS |
Board |
Up to 3 |
Allowed |
President |
The directors are appointed by the President, as prescribed in the MAS Act |
ACRA |
Board |
2 |
Allowed |
Minister |
||
Slovak Republic |
NBS |
Bank Board |
6 |
Allowed |
President Government |
Required for the governor and deputy governors |
Slovenia |
ATVP |
Director |
6 |
Allowed |
Government |
Required |
South Africa |
CIPC |
Commissioner |
5 |
Allowed |
Minister |
Not required |
FSCA |
Executive Committee |
5 |
Allowed |
Minister of Finance |
Not required |
|
Spain |
CNMV |
Board |
44 |
Only once |
Government |
Not required |
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation |
||||||
Sweden |
FI/SFSA |
Board |
3 |
Allowed |
Government |
Not required |
Switzerland |
SER |
Regulatory Board |
3 |
Allowed |
SIX |
Not required |
Türkiye |
CMB |
Board |
4 |
Allowed |
President of the Republic |
Not required |
United Kingdom |
FCA |
Board |
3 |
Allowed |
Treasury |
Not required |
United States |
SEC |
Commission |
5 |
Allowed |
President |
Required |
1. In Canada, for Ontario specifically, the Board of Directors governs the affairs of the OSC and is the ruling body in charge of corporate governance.
2. In Hungary, other members of the Financial Stability Board may be appointed until revocation by the President of the Hungarian National Bank.
3. In Portugal, the members of the board of directors are appointed by resolution of the Council of Ministers, taking into account the reasoned opinion of the competent committee of the parliament.
4. In Spain, the Spanish Parliament approved a new term for mandates (six years of mandate, but without re‑appointment) in 2023.
References
[1] OECD (2023), G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ed750b30-en.