Is there a Clash of Cultures between Germany and Britain?

Business faces ever increasing demands from both regulatory authorities and stakeholders in the form of international corporate governance standards. As part of progressive integration of European capital markets, UK and German business have taken great strides towards harmonisation of standards and approaches. Yet differences remain regarding the openness of different countries’ capital markets, and the legal, operational and financial rules governing the conduct of corporate affairs.

The conference organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany together with the Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs (ICCA) and German British Forum examines the impact of these different approaches on the financial and business exchanges between Britain and Germany. Who decides the “correct” standards? What is the impact on business of differing regulations and interpretations? Is a gradual convergence inevitable towards an international Anglo-Saxon standard? Or will a modified “European” version of traditional Rhineland corporate governance standards prove to be the strongest and most durable model?