Following up on the Surveillance update on March 8, 2020, regarding Corona
related topics in the context of issuers compliance with listing rules, Nasdaq
wants to draw your attention to a Public Statement issued by the European
Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on March 27, 2020.
The Public Statement address the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
deadlines for publishing financial reports which apply to listed issuers under
the Transparency Directive (TD).
Summary
The Statement acknowledges the difficulties encountered by issuers in preparing
financial reports and the challenges faced by auditors in carrying out timely
audits of accounts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impair the ability
of issuers to publish within the legislative deadlines.
On that basis, the Statement recommends National Competent Authorities (NCAs)
to apply forbearance powers towards issuers who need to delay publication of
financial reports beyond the statutory deadline. At the same time, the
Statement underlines that issuers should keep their investors informed of the
expected publication delay and that requirements under the Market Abuse
Regulation still apply.
You can find ESMA's Public Statement here -
https://www.esma.europa.eu/press-news/esma-news/esma-issues-guidance-financial-r
eporting-deadlines-in-light-covid-19
Scope
The Public Statement refers to issuers' obligations to publish periodic
information for reporting periods ending on 31 December 2019 or after.
Specifically the Statement address the requirement to publish an annual
financial report, which must include audited financial statements, at the
latest four months after the end of each financial year and the requirement to
publish a half-yearly financial report covering the first six months of the
financial year at the latest within three months from the end of the six-month
period. For issuers where that six-month period ended on 31 December 2019, the
latest publication date is 31 March 2020.
Reporting deadlines
Recognizing the importance of timely and transparent disclosure of financial
reports, ESMA is of the view that the burdens on issuers associated with the
COVID-19 outbreak should be taken into account by NCAs in a coordinated way.
ESMA therefore, in coordination with NCAs and considering that issuers may be
prevented from fulfilling the requirements due to COVID-19, expects NCAs during
this specific period not to prioritize supervisory actions against issuers in
respect of the upcoming deadlines set out in the TD regarding:
1. annual financial reports referring to a year-end occurring on or after 31
December 2019 but before 1 April 2020 for a period of two months following
the TD deadline; and
2. half-yearly financial reports referring to a reporting period ending on or
after 31 December 2019 but before 1 April 2020 for a period of one month
following the TD deadline.
Information to the NCA and the market on adjustments
Where issuers expects that publication of their financial reports will be
delayed beyond the deadline set out in national laws[1] transposing the TD,
they are expected to inform their NCA of this and inform the market of the
delay, the reasons for such delay and to the extent possible the estimated
publication date.
Disclosures under article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR)
ESMA reminds issuers that they continue to be subject to the disclosure
obligations laid down in Article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation. In
particular, issuers must continue to inform the market as soon as possible of
any inside information that directly concerns them.
Nasdaq Stockholm remarks
The NCA in Sweden, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (SFSA), has
expressed that they acknowledge the ESMA Public Statement meaning that the NCAs
will normally not intervene provided that:
1. the NCA is notified by the issuer about the delay;
2. the issuer notifies the market about the adjustment of their financial
calendar; and
3. that the financial report is published within the extended time period.
You can find SFSAs statement here -
https://fi.se/sv/publicerat/nyheter/2020/esma-uttalande-om-utstrackt-tid-for-att
-offentliggora-finansiella-rapporter/
Nasdaq Stockholm takes the same position as the NCA but requires issuers to
also inform the local Surveillance department regarding any adjustments,
outside the legaslative deadlines, to the publication date of financial
reports.
In line with the Public Statement Nasdaq has decided to include all financial
reports referring to a reporting period ending on or after 31 December 2019 but
before 1 April 2020. The reporting deadline, as regulated in the Nasdaq
Stockholm Rulebook, for such financial report are therefore extended with one
month. This applies provided that:
1. the issuer notifies the local Surveillance department about the delay; and
2. the issuer notifies the market about the adjustment of their financial
calendar.
It should be noted however, that ESMA emphasize that issuers are expected to
exercise their best efforts to prepare their financial reports and publish them
within the legislative deadline.
The Statements application to First North Issuers
Since the ESMA Public Statement refers to the TD and by that issuers listed on
a regulated market only, it is not formally applicable to First North issuers.
As a SME Growth Market issuers listed on First North are allowed to publish the
annual report within six (6) months. With regards to half-yearly financial
reports, which according to the Rulebook shall be published within two (2)
months, and all other financial reports referring to a reporting period ending
on or after 31 December 2019 but before 1 April 2020, Nasdaq has decided in
line with the ESMA Statement to extend the reporting deadline with one month.
It should be noted however, that issuers are expected to exercise their best
efforts to prepare their financial reports and publish them within the
regulated deadline.
Finally, please be advised that we are available for discussions regarding
regulatory and disclosure-related matters. We encourage all Issuers to contact
the Surveillance function should there be any questions regarding the rule
books or the information in this letter.
You can contact the Surveillance function at:
Telephone: +46 (8) 405 70 50; or
E-mail: iss@nasdaq com
[1] Note that Swedish legislation, the Securities Markets Act (2007:528),
stipulates that half-yearly financial reports shall be published within two (2)
months which is also stipulated in the Nasdaq Stockholm Rulebook.
Attachment:
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