Financial Reporting Council (FRC) guidance

• Guidance on Auditor Liability Limitation Agreement

1. Summarises what the law permits and requires of LLAs
2. Explains what an LLA should cover
3. Provides specimen clauses for various types of LLA
4. Gives the views of a number of institutional shareholders who say they would probably oppose types of LLA other than proportionality
5. Explains the process to be followed for obtaining shareholder approval, including specimen wording for resolutions and the notice of the general meeting
6. Setting out some of the factors that will be relevant when assessing the case for an LLA.

Legal opinion

• The legal opinion from Mark Hapgood QC (PDF 161KB/6 pages)

1. Suggests that if directors give shareholders all the information they need to make an informed decision they will not be in breach of their duty to act in shareholders' interests.
2. Discusses things directors would be expected to consider. This includes the fairness of the LLA, the availability of other terms elsewhere, and the undesirability of changing auditors too often.
3. Highlights that there is no problem with 'going first'.

Companies Act 2006

• View the relevant sections (532 to 538) on the Office of Public Information website