{"id":12205,"date":"2018-07-26T19:49:20","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T19:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/"},"modified":"2022-09-25T15:42:39","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T15:42:39","slug":"securities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/","title":{"rendered":"Quoted Securities [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#Listing_of_Securities\" title=\"Listing of Securities\">Listing of Securities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#Transparency_Directive\" title=\"Transparency Directive\">Transparency Directive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#2013_Amendment\" title=\"2013 Amendment\">2013 Amendment<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#Periodic_financial_information\" title=\"Periodic financial information\">Periodic financial information<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#Implementation\" title=\"Implementation\">Implementation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/securities\/#Shareholder_Participation\" title=\"Shareholder Participation\">Shareholder Participation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Listing_of_Securities\"><\/span>Listing of Securities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU directives have laid down common standards for stock exchange listing requirements.\u00a0 The rules provide for the information that must be published when companies are first admitted to the exchange and their ongoing publication obligations.<\/p>\n<p>The documents are provided and published in the country where the issuer of the shares has its registered office. Issuers registered in countries outside the EU may qualify for exemptions, provided the information in the other country is equivalent to that required in the EU.<\/p>\n<p>A directive consolidated and updated existing directives with a view to the modernisation of equity and securities markets.\u00a0 The purpose is to have common EU standards for capital markets. The rules cover all securities such as shares and debt instruments such as bonds.<\/p>\n<p>There are common requirements for the approval by the regulatory authority of prospectuses. There are common standards in respect of the information on the financial circumstances of the company, which must be disclosed.\u00a0 The prospectus must publish information in a very wide range of areas in respect of the issuing company.<\/p>\n<p>The common standards allow for the mutual recognition of the prospectus. However, this mutual recognition does not entitle a company entry into other country\\&#8217;s exchanges.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transparency_Directive\"><\/span>Transparency Directive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The transparency directive harmonises requirements in relation to information about entities which issue securities such as stocks and bonds on a financial market.\u00a0 There are detailed disclosure requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Periodic information must be furnished regarding the financial situation of the entity concerned and of any enterprises it controls.\u00a0 There are exemptions for states, local authorities, certain public institutions.<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing information which must be provided to investors should be regular, adequate, and sufficient.\u00a0 Member states determine the publication requirements within these criteria.\u00a0 The information must be sufficient to ensure the investors possess the requisite knowledge in relation to the value of the shares or other securities concerned.<\/p>\n<p>Information must be supplied regularly while securities are listed.\u00a0 It must accurately reflect the current situation and prospects of the issuer.\u00a0 Investors must be informed by shareholders of major shareholdings. It must be published promptly, given the nature of the markets.<\/p>\n<p>The periodic information required to be issued includes annual financial report within four months after the end of the financial year and half-yearly report within two months at the end of the period.<\/p>\n<p>The information must be made available to the public. There are ongoing obligations to disclose information as circumstances require.\u00a0 This includes details of holdings in the issuer which affects voting rights.\u00a0 Similarly, changes in rights attaching to shares and new loan issues on any guarantee or security must be disclosed.<\/p>\n<p>Holders of shares having the same rights must be treated equally. Shareholders must be in a position to exercise their rights by proxy.\u00a0 The issuer of securities must designate a financial institution through which shareholders may exercise their financial rights.<\/p>\n<p>An EU regulation provides for the use of international accounting standards for listed companies. \u00a0The international accounting standards are adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board.\u00a0 The common rules are known as the international management reporting standards.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2013_Amendment\"><\/span>2013 Amendment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The transparency directive was amended in 2013 by Directive 2013\/50\/EU. This amendment seeks to:<\/p>\n<p>reduce the administrative burden which weighed on small and medium issuers, in order to improve their access to capital;<br \/>\nimprove the efficiency of the transparency system, particularly with regard to the publication of information on corporate ownership.<br \/>\nDirective 2013\/50\/EU had to be incorporated in EU countries\u2019 national law by 26 November 2015.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Periodic_financial_information\"><\/span>Periodic financial information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Periodic information relates to the financial situation of the issuer of securities and that of the enterprises it controls. Issues of securities must divulge annual financial, reports, as well as interim financial reports (\u2018interim management statements\u2019) if they do not already publish quarterly financial reports.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, Directive 2013\/50\/EU has removed the obligation to publish an interim statement or quarterly financial report. On the other hand, the financial report must remain available to the public for at least 10 months and no longer 5.<\/p>\n<p>Notice concerning the possession of significant voting rights<\/p>\n<p>When a shareholder acquires or yields the shares of an issuer whose shares are admitted for negation on a regulated market and which carry voting rights, s\/he must notify the issuer of the percentage of voting rights that s\/he possesses following the operation. This rule applies if the percentage owned reaches certain thresholds (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 75 %) or goes above or below those thresholds. This is also true in other cases where a natural or legal person has the right to acquire, yield or exercise voting rights.<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2013\/50\/EU has extended notification of threshold crossing to financial instruments which give entitlement or the ability to acquire shares with a comparable economic effect. To assess threshold crossing, the holder must approve of shares with other financial instruments.<\/p>\n<p>Notification, which must be given as quickly as possible, concerns the new distribution of voting rights, the identifier of the shareholder, the date of change and the threshold of votes reached.<\/p>\n<p>Report on payments made to governments<\/p>\n<p>This is a new measure introduced by Directive 2013\/50\/EU. This directive obliges listed companies which are active in extractive industries (oil, gas and minerals) and forest farming to declare payments made to governments in the countries where they conduct their activities, in a separate report compiled annually.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Implementation\"><\/span>Implementation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The home state of the issuer is the principal regulator. Each state must designate its competent authority to implement the requirements.\u00a0 The authority must have the necessary powers to perform its functions including<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>monitoring of disclosure of timely information and publication of its own initiative of information not disclosed in the times;<\/li>\n<li>requests for further information and documents;<\/li>\n<li>verification of compliance with disclosures by on-site investigations;<\/li>\n<li>suspension of trading in securities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The tasks may be delegated and delegation must be notified to the Commission.\u00a0 The delegation may be, for example, to a stock exchange..<\/p>\n<p>The EU has harmonised accounting standards for listed companies.\u00a0 This is designed to protect investors.\u00a0 The International Accounting Standards Board publishes the international standard.\u00a0 From 2005, all listed companies must prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IAS.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shareholder_Participation\"><\/span>Shareholder Participation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Shareholders either individually or collectively must be entitled to put items on the agenda and submit draft resolutions.\u00a0 There may be a requirement for a minimum of 5 percent shareholding.<\/p>\n<p>Shareholders may ask questions relating to items on the agenda and the company must respond.\u00a0 Shareholder\\&#8217;s participation and voting at general meetings must not be subject to limitations other than the requirement that it be registered by a record date.\u00a0 This may not be earlier than 30 days before the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>States must abolish restrictions on shareholder participation by electronic means.\u00a0 Each shareholder may vote by proxy. States must authorise shareholders to appoint and revoke their proxy by electronic means.\u00a0 States must authorise companies to offer the shareholders the option of voting by correspondence prior to the meeting.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-12205\" data-postid=\"12205\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-12205 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listing of Securities EU directives have laid down common standards for stock exchange listing requirements.\u00a0 The rules provide for the information that must be published when companies are first admitted to the exchange and their ongoing publication obligations. The documents are provided and published in the country where the issuer of the shares has its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[128,133],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12205"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12205"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18690,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12205\/revisions\/18690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}