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Date Ref. Title Section Type Download Info Summary Related Documents Translated versions
23/03/2011 2011/82 Press release- ESMA establishes a framework for third country prospectus and applies this new framework to facilitate Israeli issuers access Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure, Press Releases Press Release PDF
189.19 KB
04/10/2011 2011/323 Final report- ESMA's technical advice on possible delegated acts concerning the Prospectus Directive as amended by the Directive 2010/73/EU Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure Technical Advice PDF
797.56 KB
12/10/2011 2011/339 Press release- ESMA Stakeholder Group elects Guillaume Prache as chair, Judith Hardt and Peter de Proft as vice-chairs Press Releases, Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group Press Release PDF
29.29 KB
03/11/2011 JC 2011/094 Press release- ESMA, EBA and EIOPA appoint members of Joint Board of Appeal Joint Committee, Board of Appeal, Press Releases Press Release PDF
24.72 KB
01/03/2012 2012/137 ESMA’s technical advice on possible delegated acts concerning the Prospectus Directive as amended by the Directive 2010/73/EU Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure Technical Advice PDF
1.32 MB		 ESMA publishes today the second part of its final advice (ESMA/2012/137) on possible delegated acts for the Prospectus Directive (PD).  The advice was submitted to the Commission on 29 February 2012.  In its advice, ESMA proposes how to use a prospectus in a retail cascade and provides input on how to review the provisions of the Prospectus Regulation concerning tax information, indices, auditor’s report on profit forecasts and estimates and audited historical financial information. Today’s advice follows a public consultation started on 13 December 2011. Overall, the technical advice aims to achieve a high level of investor protection and to increase across Europe the legal clarity and efficiency of the prospectus regime. Investment prospectuses as such are aimed to provide investors with easily accessible information on financial products so as to foster in-formed decision-making.
01/03/2012 2012/140 ESMA advises European Commission on Prospectus Directive’s overhaul- Advice covers possible delegated acts Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure, Press Releases Press Release PDF
115.14 KB
27/03/2012 2012/224 ESMA seeks views on proxy advisors Press Releases, Corporate Governance, Corporate Disclosure Press Release PDF
170.89 KB		 ESMA published last Thursday a discussion paper (ESMA/2012/212) on proxy advisors active in the European Union, seeking views of stakeholders. The paper aims at giving an overview of the state and structure of the market, advisor’s methodologies, and on possible policy options. Generally, proxy advisors assist (institutional) investors and asset managers in their voting policy and strategy.  Currently, there are no rules in place on a pan-European basis regarding proxy advisors. ESMA will use the feedback received on this paper to publish a feedback statement in Q4 of 2012, which will also include ESMA’s view on whether there is a need for policy action in the area.
11/04/2012 JC/2012/30 EBA, ESMA and EIOPA publish two reports on Money Laundering Joint Committee, Press Releases Press Release PDF
69.92 KB
31/08/2012 JC/2012/70 ESAs consult on the application of the capital calculation methods for financial conglomerates Joint Committee, Press Releases Press Release PDF
175.07 KB
09/01/2013 2012/864 ESMA’s technical advice on possible delegated acts concerning the Prospectus Directive as amended by the Directive 2010/73/EU Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure Technical Advice PDF
1.23 MB
19/02/2013 2013/240 ESMA recommends EU Code of Conduct for proxy advisor industry Press Releases, Corporate Governance, Corporate Disclosure Press Release PDF
140.27 KB
12/04/2013 2013-04-12 JC Report on Risks and Vulnerabilities in the European Union’s (EU) Financial System Joint Committee Press Release PDF
195.24 KB		   The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (Joint Committee) has published today its first Report on Risks and Vulnerabilities in the European Union’s (EU) Financial System. Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities calls for action on cross-sectoral risks. • First report by the Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) on cross-sectoral risks facing the EU financial system; • Key risks facing EU financial markets include weak macroeconomic outlook; low interest rate environment; risk of further fragmentation on the single market; increased reliance on collateral; the quality of financial institutions’ assets; lack of confidence in financial institutions’ balance sheet valuations and risk disclosure; loss of confidence in financial benchmarks; • The ESAs have closely monitored the situation in Cyprus as it has developed. The events will lead to losses throughout the financial sector in Cyprus. However, the risks of direct international contagion seem to be limited.
18/07/2013 2013/992 ESMA finalises supervisory co-operation agreements for alternative investment Fund Management, Press Releases, International cooperation Press Release PDF
167.72 KB
29/07/2013 JC 2013/01 Final Draft Regulatory Technical Standards Joint Committee Technical Standards PDF
1.17 MB
29/07/2013 JC 2013/02 Joint Committee Draft Regulatory Technical Standards Joint Committee Press Release PDF
64.35 KB		 EBA, EIOPA and ESMA publish RTS on the consistent application of calculation methods under the Financial Conglomerates Directive The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) has published its draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on the consistent application of the calculation methods described in the Financial Conglomerates Directive (FICOD) covering the assessment of the financial situation of credit institutions, insurance undertakings and investment firms which are part of a financial conglomerate. These RTS define the appropriate application of calculation methods for the determination of required capital at the financial conglomerate level. Their underlying principles are to eliminate multiple gearing and intra-group creation of own funds, transferability and availability of own funds and to cover deficit at financial conglomerate level having regard to definition of cross-sector capital. Based on the technical calculation methods provided in the FICOD, the RTS aim at harmonising the use of the calculation methods, by applying these principles and specifying which sectoral rules comprise sectoral own funds and solvency requirements in order to ensure a consistent approach in the calculations is applied across different financial conglomerates.   Legal basis These draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) have been developed in accordance with the mandate contained in Article 49(6) of the Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (Capital Requirements Regulation or CRR) and Article 150 of Directive 2013/36/EU (Capital Requirements Directive or CRD IV) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (amending Article 21a of the Directive 2002/87/EC). These Articles provide that the ESAs, through the Joint Committee, shall develop draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) with regard to the conditions of the application of Article 6(2) of Directive 2002/87/EC.   The Joint Committee The Joint Committee is a forum for cooperation that was established on 1st January 2011, with the goal of strengthening cooperation between the European Banking Authority (EBA), European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), collectively known as the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs). Through the Joint Committee, the three ESAs cooperate regularly and closely and ensure consistency in their practices. In particular, the Joint Committee works in the areas of supervision of financial conglomerates, accounting and auditing, micro-prudential analyses of cross-sectoral developments, risks and vulnerabilities for financial stability, retail investment products and measures combating money laundering.   Documents Press Release JC 2013/02 Draft Regulatory Technical Standards JC 2013/01
05/09/2013 2013-09-03 Joint Committee Report on Risks and Vulnerabilities Joint Committee Press Release PDF
179.21 KB
12/11/2013 2013/1645 ESMA clarifies shareholder cooperation in takeover situations Corporate Disclosure, Corporate Governance, Press Releases Press Release PDF
86.55 KB		 ESMA clarifies shareholder cooperation in takeover situations The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a statement on practices governed by the Takeover Bid Directive (TBD), focused on shareholder cooperation issues relating to acting in concert and the appointment of board members. The statement contains a White List of activities that shareholders can cooperate on without the presumption of acting in concert. It also contains information on how shareholders may cooperate in order to secure board member appointments by setting out factors that national authorities may take into account when considering whether shareholders are acting in concert. The statement is in response to a request by the European Commission for clarity on these issues, following its 2012 report on the application of the TBD. It is based on information collected about the TBD’s application and common practices across the European Economic Area (EEA). The statement was prepared by the Takeover Bids Network, a permanent working group, under ESMA’s auspices, that promotes the exchange of information on practices and application of the TBD across EEA. Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “Today’s statement means that shareholders can now be confident that they can expect authorities to take a consistent approach across the EEA to their cooperative activities. This consistency should in turn provide the reassurance needed by shareholders for the effective, sustainable engagement that is one of the cornerstones of listed companies’ corporate governance model allowing them to hold their boards to account. “ESMA believes that ensuring a consistent and convergent supervisory approach to this issue will be instrumental in affording equality of treatment to shareholders and investors across the EEA.” National competent authorities will have regard to the White List when determining whether shareholders are persons acting in concert under national takeover rules, but will also take into account all other relevant factors in making their decisions. Shareholder cooperation and acting in concert - The White List When shareholders cooperate to engage in any of the activities listed below, that cooperation will not, in and of itself, lead to a conclusion that the shareholders are acting in concert: 1. entering into discussions with each other about possible matters to be raised with the company’s board; 2. making representations to the company’s board about company policies, practices or particular actions that the company might consider taking; 3. other than in relation to the appointment of board members, exercising shareholders’ statutory rights; 4. other than in relation to a resolution for the appointment of board members and insofar as such a resolution is provided for under national company law, agreeing to vote the same way on a particular resolution put to a general meeting. If shareholders cooperate in an activity not included on the White List, this will also not result in an automatic assumption that they are acting in concert. Each case will be determined on its own particular facts. Cooperation in relation to the appointment of members of the board of a company The White List does not include any activity relating to cooperation on board appointments, due to differences in Member State approaches towards determining whether shareholders who cooperate in relation to board appointments are acting in concert. However, shareholders may wish to cooperate in order to secure board members’ appointment in a company in which they have invested. This cooperation might take the form of: 1. entering into an agreement or arrangement (informal or formal) to exercise their votes in the same way in order to support the appointment of one or more board members; 2. tabling a resolution to remove one or more board members and replace them with one or more new board members; or 3. tabling a resolution to appoint one or more additional board members. The statement therefore indicates which factors may be considered when assessing whether such cooperation is indeed an act of acting in concert. ESMA will keep the public statement under review in order to ensure that it continues to reflect accurately the practices and application of the TBD in the Member States. 2013/1642 Public Statement - Information on shareholder cooperation and acting in concert under the Takeover Bids Directive. 2013/1643 Cover Note to the Public Statement
12/12/2013 2013/1909 ESMA appoints new Securities Markets Stakeholders Group members Press Releases, Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group Press Release PDF
108.69 KB		 ESMA appoints new Securities Markets Stakeholders Group members The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced the composition of its Securities Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) following its approval by ESMA’s Board of Supervisors. These individuals will begin a term of 2½ years on 1 January 2014 and will replace the group whose mandate expires on 31 December 2013. The new SMSG will be composed of 30 individuals drawn from across 17 Member States and representing ESMA’s key stakeholder constituencies – consumer representatives (4), users of financial services (5), financial market participants (10), financial institution employees (2), small and medium sized enterprises (1) and academics (8). A number of the incoming members have previously served in the first SMSG. The SMSG was set up to facilitate consultation with key financial market stakeholders on all aspects of ESMA’s work. The SMSG provides ESMA with opinions and advice on policy workstreams and must be consulted on technical standards and guidelines and recommendations. In addition, the Stakeholder Group is expected to notify ESMA of any inconsistent application of European Union law as well as inconsistent supervisory practices in the Member States. Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, said: “The SMSG makes an important contribution to ESMA’s policy development, providing us with timely and valuable input on how our regulatory activities may potentially affect the different users of financial markets. “We have enjoyed a very good working relationship with the outgoing members of the SMSG who, as well as contributing their views and experience to our policymaking discussions, have been pioneers in developing the role of their group as part of the new European System of Financial Supervision. I look forward to working with the SMSG’s new members on a host of challenging issues.” The SMSG meets at least four times a year, and in addition meets twice with ESMA’s Board of Supervisors. Their advice and opinions are published on ESMA’s website.
20/12/2013 2013/1970 Draft Regulatory Technical Standards on specific situations that require the publication of a supplement to the prospectus Prospectus, Corporate Disclosure Technical Standards PDF
713.74 KB		 The Final Report contains the draft Regulatory Technical Standard (RTS) on situations which require the publication of a supplement to the prospectus which ESMA is required to submit to the European Commission by 1 January 2014 in accordance with Article 16(3) of the Prospectus Directive. The Report furthermore includes a summary of the main responses received to ESMA’s Consultation Paper which was published in March 2013. The draft RTS sets out nine situations which are always considered to be significant in the context of securities issuance and where a supplement to the prospectus will always be required. Other situations would require a case-by-case assessment.
25/02/2014 2014/225 ESMA Stakeholder Group elects Chair and Vice-Chairs Press Releases, Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group Press Release PDF
69.4 KB		 ESMA Stakeholder Group elects Chair and Vice-Chairs The Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has elected Jesper Lau Hansen as its new Chair, and Judith Hardt and Peter De Proft, as its Vice-Chairs. The election took place at the first meeting of its new membership on 29 January 2014, following their appointment by ESMA’s Board of Supervisors in November 2013. The new Chair, Dr. Jesper Lau Hansen, is currently Professor of Company Law and Financial Markets Law at Copenhagen University and represents the academic constituency. The two Vice-Chairs, Judith Hardt, Director General, Federation of European Stock Exchanges (FESE), and Peter De Proft, Director General, European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), represent financial market participants. Dr. Jesper Lau Hansen, SMSG Chair, said: “I look forward to chairing the SMSG and, together with the Vice-Chairs, representing all securities markets stakeholders by ensuring that those who are directly affected by ESMA’s regulations have their voice heard in their preparation.” Mr. Peter De Proft, SMSG Vice-Chair said: “I am honoured to be appointed Vice Chair of this group for a second term, together with my colleague and Vice Chair, Judith Hardt and looking forward to working as a team with the Chair. “Our mandate is straightforward, but crucial. We must continue to ensure ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders. We are there to provide timely and insightful advice for ESMA and to support them in their mission of protecting investors while promoting stable and well-functioning financial markets in the European Union”. Ms. Judith Hardt, SMSG Vice-Chair said: “The securities markets stakeholder group has a strategic role to play in advising ESMA on the implementation of level 1 measures. Our priority is to help the group formulate timely and useful advice for ESMA at a critical time. I look forward to working together with the Chair and my colleague Peter De Proft.” The SMSG Chair and Vice-Chairs will serve for a period of 2½ years to coincide with the Group’s mandate.

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