AFME Supports UK Government’s Reforms Allowing Flexibility in Investment Research Payments

AFME Supports UK Government’s Reforms Allowing Flexibility in Investment Research Payments

(IN BRIEF) The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has welcomed the UK Government’s Mansion House reforms, particularly the optionality provided for paying for investment research. The reforms allow clients to choose how they pay for research, whether bundled or unbundled, removing the requirement for market participants to unbundle research under the EU’s MiFID II legislation. AFME emphasizes the importance of aligning the UK’s regulatory environment with other jurisdictions and maintaining a level playing field. AFME also supports the simplification of prospectus rules, which will enhance the efficiency of primary issuances and improve the attractiveness of the UK as a venue for company listings.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 12-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — In response to the UK Government’s Mansion House reforms, announced, including the publication of the Investment Research Review, allowing for optionality on how to pay for investment research, Adam Farkas, CEO of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) commented:

“Today’s reforms from the UK Government are another welcome step towards driving greater access to capital markets, following the positive rulebook changes proposed in the Wholesale Markets Review.

“In particular, AFME members are supportive of the UK Government’s approach to the provision of investment research which allows for more flexibility in that clients will have the option to choose how they pay for the research they consume, whether bundled or unbundled, by removing the requirement on market participants to unbundle which is currently contained in the EU’s MIFID II legislation.

“It should also be noted that the investment research market is inherently international and further changes to the UK’s regulatory and legislative environment in this area should prioritise, where possible, alignment with other jurisdictions. It should also provide a level playing field for both UK providers and consumers of research competing with international counterparts. AFME notes that similar themes are being addressed in ongoing discussions by other policymakers, and it is important for the respective UK initiatives to take account of developments in other jurisdictions such as the US and EU.

“From our own analysis, AFME has found no evidence to support a causal link between the introduction of the unbundling rules and the pre-existing declining trend in SME research coverage. Among the numerous surveys and reports AFME has conducted on this topic, no respondents have identified the unbundling regime as a causal factor in declining SME coverage.

“Noting the UK proposals on a new research platform and a pre-public offering arena, AFME will be interested in assessing the scope and objective of such new infrastructures and their impact on UK financial markets and their users.”

On simplification of prospectuses:

“AFME fully supports simplifying rules for prospectuses, both in the context of making procedures, disclosure and oversight more effective and efficient in primary issuances and also in the context of questioning if or when a prospectus (or other shorter form document) is needed for a secondary or follow-on issuance. These are welcome proposals which will go a long way towards increasing the attractiveness of the UK as a venue for company listings.”

Note to Editors:

• AFME and UK Finance response to Investment Research Review Call for Evidence

https://www.afme.eu/Portals/0/DispatchFeaturedImages/UK%20Finance-AFME%20response%20to%20IRR%20Call%20for%20Evidence%20-%2024April23%20-%20Final.pdf

• AFME reports which find no evidence of a causal link between unbundling rules and the decline in SME research coverage:

• Bridging the Growth Gap, BCG report (February 2015)
• Raising Finance for Europe’s Small & Medium Sized Businesses: (September 2015)
• The Shortage of Risk Capital for Europe’s High Growth Businesses (March 2017)
• Recapitalising EU businesses post COVID-19, PwC report (January 2021)
• Introducing a New Hybrid Recapitalisation Instrument for Smaller EU Corporates, PwC and Linklaters report (November 2021)
• AFME Capital Markets Union Key Performance Indicators – Fifth Edition (November 2022, pages 83-85)
• AFME Response to EU Listing Act Consultation – Research Section (March 2023, page 16)

Media Contact:

Rebecca Hansford
Head of Communications and Marketing
rebecca.hansford@afme.eu
+44 (0)20 3828 2693

SOURCE: AFME