ESMA_QA_2057
Topic
ICT third-party risk management
20/12/2023
Subject Matter
Software companies
Question
How can DORA Article 28 be applied on software companies when the financial entity purchases off-the-shelf software licenses? If the off-the-shelf software supports critical or important function, should the DORA Article 28 (8) be applied?
Level 1 Regulation
Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 - The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
ESMA_QA_2056
Topic
ICT third-party risk management
20/12/2023
Subject Matter
Software distributors
Question
When an off-the-shelf software license (e.g. operating systems, database) is purchased through a distributor, is the distributor qualifying as “ICT third-party service provider” in case if the distributor itself is not providing any additional services in addition to the distribution, and its contractual tasks are completed with the successful intermediation of the license agreement? Is the software company qualifying as a direct “ICT third-party service provider” based on the end-user license agreement (EULA) accepted by the financial entity?
Level 1 Regulation
Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 - The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
ESMA_QA_1216
Topic
Best Execution
22/06/2023
Subject Matter
Correct classification of Investment Services and Investment Activities
Question
Can an investment firm which is licensed under the MiFID II Directive, conduct it business such that it is carrying out an investment activity and not providing an investment service?
Level 1 Regulation
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) Directive 2014/65/EU- Investor Protection and Intermediaries
ESMA_QA_973
Topic
Best Execution
29/05/2023
Subject Matter
Classification of NON EU instruments in RTS28 report
Question
For RTS28 report, we classify the instruments using:

• the cficode of Firds to classify the instruments in Equities – Shares & Depositary Receipts, Debt instruments, Interest rates derivatives …
• the volumes of Fitrs to classify the Equities – Shares & Depositary Receipts in subassets ( (i) Tick size liquidity bands 5 and 6 (from 2000 trades per day), (ii) Tick size liquidity bands 3 and 4 (from 80 to 1999 trades per day) (iii), Tick size liquidity band 1 and 2 (from 0 to 79 trades per day))

How should we classify non – EU instruments that are not present in Firds and Fitrs?
Level 1 Regulation
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) Directive 2014/65/EU- Investor Protection and Intermediaries
ESMA_QA_662
Topic
Provision of investment services and activities by third country firms
18/01/2023
Subject Matter
Conditions for branches of third country credit institutions registered at ESMA as MIFID investment firms to service per se professional clients and eligible counterparties within the EU
Question
ESMA is requested to provide interpretation on whether:
— it is appropriate that the Home Member State Authority of these Branches registered as MIFID investment firms expects them to comply with the complete set of legislation regime of MiFID2, MIFIR and EMIR in the same way as any investment firm in the legal form of an EU credit institution;
— these Branches registered as MIFID investment firms may freely provide cross-border investment services to per se professional clients and eligible counterparties in an EU Member State different from their Home Member State based on their investment license issued by their Home Member state, subject to complying with the notification requirements described in paragraph 2 of Article 34 of MIFID2.
Level 1 Regulation
Directive 2014/65/EU - Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II)