UKLA
UK Listing Authority. The Financial Services Authority, acting in its capacity as the UK Listing Authority, is the regulator responsible for listing and monitoring companies whose shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. ultimate holding company
If company C is owned by company B and company B in turn is owned by company A, then company A is the ultimate holding company of company C. unamortised cost
The historical cost of a fixed asset before any depreciation is deducted. unappropriated profit
The part of a company's profit that is neither allocated to a specific purpose nor paid out by way of dividends. uncalled capital
Occasionally part of a company's issued share capital is held in reserve and is only called up if the company is wound up. unconditional bid
A takeover bid in which the offer to the target company's shareholders has no conditions attached. undercapitalised
An organisation that has insufficient capital for the amount of business it undertakes. underwriter
Someone who assesses a risk and agrees to cover possible losses in exchange for a premium (insurance). Alternatively, a stockbroker or investment bank which guarantees to buy any unsold shares in a rights issue in exchange for commission. underwriting
Usually refers to banks or stockbrokers guaranteeing the purchase of an issue of shares or bonds in exchange for commission. Alternatively, it could refer to the acceptance of insurance risk by insurance underwriters. unit trust
A collective investment scheme, whereby investors' funds are pooled and invested in a range of investments. Small investors can then buy units, which give them access to a diversified portfolio of investments chosen and managed by professional fund managers. unlimited liability
Liability for all the debts incurred by a business. Sole traders and partners have unlimited liability for the debts of their firms. Companies, however, are usually incorporated with limited liability. unlisted securities
Securities in companies that are not listed on an official stock-exchange list. unquoted company
A company whose securities are not normally available to the public on a stock exchange. unquoted securities
Securities that are not dealt in on any stock exchange. unrealised
Usually refers to a profit that is still notional - for example, a building may have been revalued, giving rise to an unrealised profit. The profit will not be realised until the building is actually sold. unrealised profit
A profit that is still notional - for example, a building may have been revalued, giving rise to an unrealised profit. The profit will not be realised until the building is actually sold. unsecured
A loan is described as unsecured when the lender has not arranged any special terms in the event of non-payment. unsecured creditor
A person who is owed money by an organisation and who has not arranged any special terms in the event of non-payment. A secured creditor, on the other hand, has an arrangement whereby, in the event of non-payment, specific assets would be available as a fund out of which that person could be paid in priority to other creditors. upgrade
Analysts will upgrade their forecasts if a company issues earnings guidance which is more positive than previously. This guidance is also referred to as an upgrade, in the sense of upgrading analysts' expectations. US GAAP
US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Procedures and rules that define accounting practice. By following the standards set out by the US Financial Accounting Standards Board, a company can produce accounts that comply with US GAAP. | 
>
>
>
>
>
