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Date Ref. Title Section Type Download Info Summary Related Documents Translated versions
03/10/2018 ESMA71-99-1046 WP 2019 Press Release Board of Supervisors, Corporate Information, Planning reporting budget Press Release PDF
282.94 KB
04/06/2020 ESMA71-99-1338 Scope Ratings Enforcement Action Credit Rating Agencies, Press Releases Press Release PDF
127.88 KB
15/10/2021 ESMA71-9-1745 Ross appointed ESMA Chair Management Board, Press Releases Press Release PDF
84.56 KB
15/02/2012 2012/100 Regulators re-elect Jean Guill, Kurt Pribil and Fernando Restoy to ESMA’s Management Board Management Board, Press Releases Press Release PDF
111.25 KB
03/11/2021 ESMA71-99-1749 Press_Release_New Chair_Ross November FINAL Board of Supervisors, Corporate Information, Joint Committee, Management Board, Press Releases Press Release PDF
81.42 KB
26/11/2020 ESMA71-99-1442 Press_Release_ESMA Chair Candidates Shortlist Board of Supervisors, Corporate Information, Press Releases Press Release PDF
109.44 KB
24/03/2022 ESMA71-99-1913 Press_Release_Enforcement REGIS TR Board of Supervisors, Press Releases, Trade Repositories Press Release PDF
121.76 KB
27/05/2019 ESMA71-99-1166 Press release: ESMA registers Inbonis SA as credit rating agency Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
75.61 KB
18/03/2019 ESMA71-99-1127 Press release: ESMA registers Beyond Ratings SAS as credit rating agence Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
75.72 KB
12/12/2019 ESMA71-99-1263 Press release: ESMA calls for strengthened supervision on suspicious transaction reporting Market Abuse, Supervisory convergence Press Release PDF
100.61 KB
08/11/2011 2011/371 Press release- Regulators elect Martin Wheatley to ESMA's Management Board Management Board, Press Releases Press Release PDF
131.43 KB
27/07/2018 ESMA71-99-1023 Press release- Nordic Credit Rating AS registered as CRA Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
214.63 KB
13/08/2018 ESMA71-99-1024 Press release- Moody's Nordics CRA registration Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
224.93 KB
18/12/2014 2014/1568 Press Release- Investment-based crowdfunding needs EU-wide common approach Innovation and Products, Press Releases Press Release PDF
155 KB		 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published an Opinion along with an Advice on Investment-based crowdfunding. The Opinion clarifies the EU rules applicable to crowdfunding, while the Advice highlights issues for consideration by the EU institutions to achieve greater regulatory and supervisory convergence within the EU.The Opinion is addressed to the national competent authorities (NCA) and provides clarity on how crowdfunding business models fit within the existing EU regulatory framework. It outlines how existing EU rules are likely to apply to crowdfunding platforms, depending on the precise business model used. It also provides guidance to NCAs who may be considering how to regulate platforms operating outside the scope of the harmonised EU rules on the key risks inherent to crowdfunding and the key components of a regulatory regime to address them.The Advice, addressed to the EU institutions – Commission, Parliament and Council, highlights the concern that strong incentives currently exist for crowdfunding platforms to structure their business models to fall outside the scope of regulation and asks them to consider policy options to reduce these incentives. Avoiding regulation presents risks to investor protection and makes it harder for platforms to grow their businesses.Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “ESMA’s aim is to enable crowdfunding to reach its potential as a source of finance, while ensuring that risks to users of crowdfunding platforms are identified and addressed in a proportionate and convergent way across the EU. “We believe that there are benefits both for investors as well as for platforms by operating inside rather than outside the regulated space. Opinion to National Competent AuthoritiesConsidering the diverse business models used within investment-based crowdfunding and depending on the precise structures used different EU legislation may apply. The Opinion sets out an analysis of how the main business models map across existing EU rules, e.g., the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), the Prospectus Directive, the Directive for Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMD) and other financial and banking regulations. In addition, the Opinion outlines what ESMA believes should be the key components of an appropriate regulatory regime for investment-based crowdfunding activities. ESMA’s Advice to the EU InstitutionsThe Advice to the EU institutions highlights gaps and issues in the current applicable regime where policymakers could consider taking action to ensure there is a regime protecting investors while also fit for purpose for crowdfunding platforms. These gaps and issues include: the impact of the Prospects Directive thresholds; capital requirements and the use of the MiFID optional exemption; and the potential development of a specific EU crowdfunding regime, in particular for those platforms that currently operate outside of the scope of MiFID The Opinion and Advice have been prepared in collaboration with and input from the European Banking Authority (EBA) on the regulation that falls within its scope of action, i.e. the Payment Services Directive, and constitute the first output of a co-ordinated programme of work with the next expected output being a publication by EBA on lending-based crowdfunding. In line with their respective remits, ESMA has focused on investment-based crowdfunding, while EBA has focused on lending-based crowdfunding.
16/12/2014 2014/1525 Press Release- Improvements needed in CRAs surveillance of structured finance credit ratings Credit Rating Agencies, Press Releases Press Release PDF
88.76 KB		 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a report on the findings of its investigation into the way credit rating agencies (CRA) conduct surveillance of their structured finance credit ratings. The investigation, which took place between October 2013 and September 2014, was prompted by the continued relevance of structured finance products and the high outstanding volume in issuance. It focused on the four largest CRAs providing credit ratings on these finance instruments in the EU – DBRS Ratings, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Services and Standard & Poor’s – which account for almost 100% of the total outstanding credit ratings on EU structured finance instruments. In its investigation ESMA identified a number of shortcomings in several areas affecting the surveillance of structured finance ratings for the CRAs investigated. ESMA also identified weaknesses on the level of disclosure and transparency which could be detrimental to investor protection. ESMA has not determined whether any of the Report’s findings constitute a breach of the CRA Regulation, and may take action as appropriate in due course.Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “ESMA’s investigation has found shortcomings in CRAs’ processes for the surveillance of structured finance credit ratings which could affect the quality of the ratings. These concerns centred on information quality controls, the application of CRAs’ methodologies and the related disclosure as well as the timely completion of the credit ratings annual review.  Issues were also identified in relation to the role and independence of the internal review function. “The high volume of issued structured finance instruments and renewed interest in securitisation as an alternative funding source make the results of this review all the more timely. “All registered CRAs should take note of the problems identified and ensure that they properly incorporate the requirements and objectives of the CRA Regulation into their working practices in order to ensure the quality of credit ratings and maintain investor confidence. The good practices identified in the Report can help with that improvement.”   ESMA has requested that CRAs put in place the remedial action plans to solve the individual concerns identified. ESMA will follow up with each of the CRAs subject to this investigation. Likewise, ESMA will monitor all other registered CRAs as part of its on-going supervision.
11/05/2005 05-331 Press release- Facilitating the implementation of the Market Abuse Directive Market Abuse, Press Releases Press Release PDF
72.91 KB
19/02/2019 ESMA71-99-1112 Press release- ESMA supervision to focus on data, Brexit and cybersecurity in 2019 Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
79.6 KB
21/02/2014 2014/212 Press release- ESMA sets out CRA supervision focus for 2014 Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
118.48 KB		 ESMA sets out CRA supervision focus for 2014 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published its Annual Report 2013 (Report) on credit rating agencies (CRAs) in the European Union (EU). The Report also outlines ESMA’s supervisory work plan for this year. ESMA has found that CRAs continue to progress in how they comply with the CRA Regulation, including improved internal transparency and disclosure to the market on credit rating activities as well as empowerment of the compliance function. However, ESMA considers that improvements are still necessary, notably in the following areas: validation of rating methodologies, to ensure that a credit rating assessment is a comprehensive risk assessment leading to high quality ratings; internal governance, ensuring the full independence of the internal review function and thereby reducing the risk of potential conflict of interest; and robust IT systems to support the rating process, including information security controls and protection of confidential rating information. These issues form the basis for much of ESMA’s supervision activities as outlined in its 2014 work plan. This includes the completion of the two on-going supervisory reviews into CRAs’ monitoring of structured finance ratings and into small and medium-sized CRAs. A new thematic investigation on how CRAs review and validate their rating methodologies will also be launched, as well as dedicated work on CRAs’ IT systems and controls. Following the entry into force of the amended CRA Regulation in June 2013, ESMA will also complete a specific assessment on CRAs’ compliance with the new regulatory requirements. Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “ESMA is in its third year as the EU’s CRA regulator and today’s report provides us with an assessment of the progress made to date. However, as shown by our recent work on sovereign ratings there are still issues around governance as well as independence,objectivity and quality of the rating process that need to be remedied in order to restore market confidence in CRAs and their ratings. “We will continue to proactively and intrusively supervise CRAs and work with them to address their shortcomings. This will contribute to building confidence in the transparency and smooth functioning of EU financial markets while ensuring a high level of financial consumer protection.” The 2013 Report summarises how ESMA fulfilled its role as the supervisor of CRAs in the EU. It covers ESMA’s supervisory activities, progress in dealing with registrations, and its policy work in relation to existing and new legislative requirements. In particular, the Report focuses on the results of ESMA’s supervisory work through on-going supervision as well as thematic reviews, such as that into the sovereign ratings process of a number of CRAs, the inspections of small and medium-sized CRAs and a further inspection of the ratings publication controls in a single CRA.
03/12/2018 ESMA71-99-1071 Press release- ESMA registers A.M. Best (EU) Rating Services B.V. as credit rating agency Credit Rating Agencies Press Release PDF
299.01 KB
16/02/2015 2015/281 Press Release- ESMA publishes annual report and supervisory focus for CRAs and TRs Corporate Information, Credit Rating Agencies, Post Trading, Press Releases Press Release PDF
186.67 KB		 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published today an annual report (Report) on its direct supervisory activities in 2014 regarding credit rating agencies (CRAs) and trade repositories (TR). The report summarises the key actions taken during 2014 and outlines ESMA’s supervisory work plans for both sectors for 2015.

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