Date: 4 February 2025
Hosted by
Overview
Delegates joined ICMA and A&O Shearman in London for an afternoon of discussions with EU and UK policy makers, regulators, and market participants on a range of regulatory developments affecting primary bond markets (notably regarding prospectuses). Event proceedings were followed by a networking reception.
We heard from the European Commission, ESMA, various EU national regulators, the FCA, major stock exchanges and leading market practitioners.
The reviews of the EU and UK prospectus regimes are now at the stage where the more detailed provisions are being considered, including new ESG-specific provisions (linking in the EU context to the European green bond standard) as well as further efforts to both ease issuer burdens and facilitate retail participation. The Conference presented a valuable opportunity for delegates to get together in person and exchange views on these and other forthcoming regulatory changes.
ICMA’s Senior Directors, Miriam Patterson and Ruari Ewing, in the Primary Markets team at ICMA were joined by partner Amanda Thomas and counsel Jennifer Cresswell to discuss key takeaways and learnings from the ICMA/A&O Shearman 2025 European Primary Bond Markets Regulation conference, held on Tuesday 4 February.
Listen here.
| GMT | This event will be held under Chatham House rule. | |
| 13:00 | Registration | |
| 13:30 | Welcome remarks Bryan Pascoe, Chief Executive, International Capital Market Association (ICMA) |
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| 13:35 | Opening remarks Amanda Thomas, Partner, Global Head of Finance/International capital markets Know-How & Training, A&O Shearman |
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| 13:40 | Fireside chat with European Commission Cesare Posti, Team Leader – Securities Markets Team, DG FISMA, European Commission Amanda Thomas, Partner, Global Head of Finance/International capital markets Know-How & Training, A&O Shearman |
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| 13:55 | Fireside chat with ESMA Gregory Frigo, Senior Policy Officer, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Virtual speaker Jennifer Cresswell, Counsel and Head of London ICM Central Know-How, A&O Shearman |
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| 14:20 | Panel discussion with EU National Competent Authorities Moderator: Cristiano Tommasi, Partner, A&O Shearman
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| 15:10 | FCA Speech Jim Moran, Head of Listing Transactions, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
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| 15:25 | FCA moderated discussion Moderator: Miriam Patterson, Senior Director, Market Practice and Regulatory Policy, ICMA
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| 15:40 | Break | |
| 16:10 | Panel discussion with major European stock exchanges Moderator: Ruari Ewing, Senior Director, Market Practice and Regulatory Policy, ICMA
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| 17:00 | Panel discussion with market participants Moderator: Tom Grant, Partner, A&O Shearman
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| 17:50 | Closing remarks Amanda Thomas, Partner, Global Head of Finance/International capital markets Know-How & Training, A&O Shearman |
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| 17:55 | Networking reception | |
| 19:00 | Event close |
| Overview of the latest developments in the sustainable bond markets: an ICMA and BofA Securities training workshop (by invitation only) Organised by: ICMA and BofA Securities Time: 08:30 - 16:30 SGT, Tuesday, June 27 Venue: The Westin Singapore ICMA and BofA Securities will hold a one-day training workshop aimed at regulators, issuers, investors and other market participants from the APAC region on June 27 at the Westin Singapore. The workshop will cover a comprehensive range of topics including: an overview of the Principles, financing themes such as climate transition, blue and biodiversity, overview of the EU/ASEAN taxonomies, an update on external reviews, disclosures and reporting as well as a case study on sustainability-linked bond issuance. Presenters will include representatives from ICMA, IFC, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, BofA Securities, RAM Sustainability and Dentons Hong Kong. |
| Roundtable on Singapore GFIT Taxonomy (invitation only) Organised by ICMA Time: 10:00-11:30 SGT, Tuesday, 27 June 2023 Venue: Singapore |
| Roundtable on global and Asian transition finance (invitation only) Organised by ICMA Time: 15:30-17:00 SGT, Tuesday, 27 June 2023 Venue: Singapore |
