Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/980 of 14 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1129

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) ‘asset-backed securities’ means non-equity securities which either: (i) represent an interest in assets, including any rights intended to ensure the servicing of those assets, the receipt or the timely receipt by holders of those assets of the amounts payable under those assets; (ii) are secured by assets and the terms of the securities provide for payments calculated by reference to those assets;

(b) ‘equivalent third country market’ means a third country market which has been deemed equivalent to a regulated market in accordance with the requirements set out in third and fourth subparagraphs of Article 25(4) of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (1);

(c) ‘profit estimate’ means a profit forecast for a financial period which has expired and for which results have not yet been published;

(d) ‘profit forecast’ means a statement that expressly or by implication indicates a figure or a minimum or maximum figure for the likely level of profits or losses for current or future financial periods, or contains data from which a calculation of such a figure for future profits or losses can be made, even if no particular figure is mentioned and the word ‘profit’ is not used;

(e) ‘significant gross change’ means a variation of more than 25 % to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer’s business.

1. For equity securities, the registration document shall contain the information referred to in Annex 1 to this Regulation, unless it is drawn up in accordance with Articles 9, 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the registration document for the following securities, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, may be drawn up in accordance with Article 7 of this Regulation for retail securities or Article 8 of this Regulation for wholesale securities:(a) the securities referred to in Articles 19(1) and 20(1) of this Regulation;(b) the securities referred to in Article 19(2) of this Regulation, where those securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market;(c) the securities referred to in Article 20(2) of this Regulation, where those securities give the right to subscribe or acquire shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market.

A registration document that is drawn up in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 2 to this Regulation.

1. A specific registration document for equity securities that is drawn up in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 3 to this Regulation.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the registration document for the following securities, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, may be drawn up in accordance with Article 9:(a) the securities referred to in Articles 19(1) and 20(1) of this Regulation;(b) the securities referred to in Article 19(2) of this Regulation, where those securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market;(c) the securities referred to in Article 20(2) of this Regulation, where those securities give the right to subscribe or acquire shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market.

For units issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type, the registration document shall contain the information referred to in Annex 4.

For depository receipts issued over shares, the registration document shall contain the information referred to in Annex 5.

For non-equity securities other than those referred to in Article 8(2) of this Regulation, the registration document shall contain the information referred to in Annex 6 to this Regulation, unless it is drawn up in accordance with Articles 9, 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 or contains the information referred to in Annex 1 to this Regulation.

1. For non-equity securities as referred to in paragraph 2, the registration document shall contain the information referred to in Annex 7 to this Regulation, unless the registration document is drawn up in accordance with Articles 9, 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 or contains the information referred to in Annexes 1 or 6 to this Regulation.

2. The requirement referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply to non-equity securities that comply with one of the following conditions:(a) they are to be traded only on a regulated market, or a specific segment thereof, to which only qualified investors can have access for the purposes of trading in such securities;(b) they have a denomination per unit of at least than EUR 100 000 or, where there is no individual denomination, can only be acquired on issue for at least EUR 100 000 per security.

A specific registration document for non-equity securities that is drawn up in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 8 to this Regulation, unless it contains the information referred to in Annex 3 to this Regulation.

By way of derogation from Articles 7 and 8, a registration document that is drawn up for asset-backed securities, shall contain the information referred to in Annex 9.

By way of derogation from Articles 7 and 8, a registration document that is drawn up for non-equity securities issued by third countries or their regional or local authorities, shall contain the information referred to in Annex 10.

1. For equity securities or units issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type, the securities note shall contain the information referred to in Annex 11 to this Regulation, unless it is drawn up in accordance with Articles 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the securities note for the securities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 19 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 20 of this Regulation, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, shall be drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of this Regulation for retail securities or Article 16 of this Regulation for wholesale securities.

1. A specific securities note for equity securities or units issued by collective investment undertakings of the closed-end type that is drawn up in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 12 to this Regulation.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the specific securities note for the securities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 19 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 20 of this Regulation, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, shall be drawn up in accordance with Article 17 of this Regulation.

For depository receipts issued over shares, the securities note shall contain the information referred to in Annex 13.

For non-equity securities other than those referred to in Article 8(2) of this Regulation, the securities note shall contain the information referred to in Annex 14 to this Regulation, unless a specific securities note is drawn up in accordance with Articles 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

For non-equity securities as referred to in Article 8(2) of this Regulation, the securities note shall contain the information referred to in Annex 15 to this Regulation, unless it contains the information referred to in Annex 14 to this Regulation or unless a specific securities note is drawn up in accordance with Articles 14 or 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

A specific securities note for non-equity securities that is drawn up in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 16 to this Regulation.

1. Where the issuer of an equity security has a complex financial history, or has made a significant financial commitment, additional information with respect to an entity other than the issuer shall be included in the prospectus, as referred to in paragraph 2.

2. With respect to an entity, other than the issuer, additional information shall be all information referred to in Annexes 1 and 20 to this Regulation that investors need to make an informed assessment as referred to in Article 6(1) and Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as if that entity were the issuer of the equity security.

Such additional information shall be preceded by a clear explanation of why that information is needed for investors to make an informed assessment and shall specify the effects of the complex financial history or of the significant financial commitment on the issuer or on the issuer’s business.

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1, an issuer shall be considered as having a complex financial history where all of the following conditions are fulfilled:(a) at the time of drawing up the prospectus, the information referred to in the relevant Annexes does not represent the issuer’s undertaking accurately;(b) the inaccuracy referred to in point (a) affects the ability of investors to make an informed assessment as referred to in Article 6(1) and Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(c) additional information relating to an entity other than the issuer is needed for investors to make an informed assessment as referred to in Article 6(1) and Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

4. For the purposes of paragraph 1, a significant financial commitment is a binding agreement to undertake a transaction that is likely to give rise to a variation of more than 25 % relative to one or more indicators of the size of the issuer’s business.

1. Where securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are admitted to trading on a regulated market, the securities note shall contain as additional information the information referred to in item 2.2.2 of Annex 17.

2. Where securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are or will be issued by the issuer or by an entity belonging to that issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the securities note shall also contain the following additional information:(a) the information referred to in items 3.1 and 3.2 of Annex 11 in respect of that issuer or of that entity belonging to the issuer’s group;(b) the information referred to in Annex 18 in respect of the underlying share.

3. Where securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are or will be issued by a third party issuer and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the securities note shall contain as additional information the information referred to in Annex 18.

1. For securities other than those referred to in Article 19 that give the right to subscribe or to acquire shares that are or will be issued by the issuer or by an entity belonging to that issuer’s group and that are admitted to trading on a regulated market, the securities note shall contain as additional information the information referred to in Annex 17.

2. For securities other than those referred to in Article 19 that give the right to subscribe or acquire shares that are or will be issued by the issuer or by an entity belonging to that issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market, the securities note shall also contain the following additional information:(a) the information referred to in Annex 17 except for the information referred to in item 2.2.2 of that Annex;(b) the information referred to in Annex 18 in respect of the underlying share.

3. For securities other than those referred to in Article 19 that are linked to an underlying other than shares referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the securities note shall contain as additional information the information referred to in Annex 17.

For asset-backed securities, the securities notes shall also contain the additional information referred to in Annex 19.

For non-equity securities that include guarantees, the securities notes shall also contain the additional information referred to in Annex 21.

Where the issuer or the person responsible for drawing up a prospectus consents to its use as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the prospectus shall contain the following additional information:

(a) the information referred to in items 1 and 2A of Annex 22 to this Regulation where the consent is provided to one or more specified financial intermediaries;

(b) the information referred to in items 1 and 2B of Annex 22 to this Regulation where the consent is given to all financial intermediaries.

1. Where a prospectus is drawn up as a single document, it shall be composed of the following elements set out in the following order:(a) a table of contents;(b) a summary, where required by Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(c) the risk factors referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(d) any other information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation that is to be included in that prospectus.

The issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may decide the order in which the information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation is set out in the prospectus.

2. Where a prospectus is drawn up as separate documents, the registration document and the securities note shall be composed of the following elements set out in the following order:(a) a table of contents;(b) the risk factors referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(c) any other information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation that is to be included in that registration document or that securities note.

The issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may decide the order in which the information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation is set out in the registration document and the securities note.

3. Where the registration document is drawn up in the form of a universal registration document, the issuer may include the risks factors referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2 amongst the information referred to in point (c) of that paragraph provided that those risk factors remain identifiable as a single section.

4. Where a universal registration document is used for the purposes of Article 9(12) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the information referred to in that Article shall be presented in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 (2).

5. Where the order of the information referred to in point (d) of paragraph 1 and in point (c) of paragraph 2 is different from the order in which that information is presented in the Annexes to this Regulation, competent authorities may request to provide a list of cross references indicating the items of those Annexes to which that information corresponds.

The list of cross references referred to in the first subparagraph shall identify any items set out in the Annexes to this Regulation that have not been included in the draft prospectus due to the nature or type of issuer, securities, offer or admission to trading.

6. Where no list of cross-references is requested in accordance with paragraph 5 or is not voluntarily submitted by the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, it shall be indicated in the margin of the draft prospectus to which information in the draft prospectus the relevant information items set out in the Annexes to this Regulation correspond.

1. A base prospectus drawn up as a single document shall be composed of the following elements set out in the following order:(a) a table of contents;(b) a general description of the offering programme;(c) the risk factors referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(d) any other information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation that is to be included in the base prospectus.

The issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may decide the order in which the information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation is set out in the base prospectus.

2. Where a base prospectus is drawn up as separate documents, the registration document and the securities note shall be composed of the following elements set out in the following order:(a) a table of contents;(b) in the securities note, a general description of the offering programme;(c) the risk factors referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(d) any other information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation that is to be included in the registration document and the securities note.

The issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may decide the order in which the information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation is set out in the registration document and the securities note.

3. An issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market may compile in one single document two or more base prospectuses.

4. Where the registration document is drawn up in the form of a universal registration document, the issuer may include the risks factors referred to in point (c) of paragraph 2 amongst the information referred to in point (d) of that paragraph provided that those risk factors remain identifiable as a single section.

5. Where a universal registration document is used for the purposes of Article 9(12) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the information referred to in that Article shall be presented in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815.

6. Where the order of the information referred to in point (d) of paragraphs 1 and 2 is different from the order in which that information is presented in the Annexes to this Regulation, competent authorities may request to provide a list of cross references indicating the items of those Annexes to which that information corresponds.

The list of cross references referred to in the first subparagraph shall identify any items set out in the Annexes to this Regulation that have not been included in the draft base prospectus due to the nature or type of issuer, securities, offer or admission to trading.

7. Where no list of cross-references is requested in accordance with paragraph 6 or is not voluntarily submitted by the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market, it shall be indicated in the margin of the draft base prospectus to which information in the draft base prospectus the relevant information items set out in the Annexes to this Regulation correspond.

1. The information referred to as ‘Category A’ in Annexes 14 to 19 and 27 to this Regulation shall be included in the base prospectus.

2. The information referred to as ‘Category B’ in Annexes 14 to 19 and 27 to this Regulation shall be included in the base prospectus except for details of that information that are not known at the time of approval of that base prospectus. Such details shall be inserted in the final terms.

3. The information referred to as ‘Category C’ in Annexes 14 to 19 and 27 to this Regulation shall be inserted in the final terms, unless it is known at the time of approval of the base prospectus, in which case it may be inserted in that base prospectus instead.

4. In addition to the information referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, the final terms may only contain the information referred to in Annex 28 to this Regulation. The form of the final terms referred to in Article 8(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall indicate which of the information referred to in Annex 28 to this Regulation is to be determined in the final terms.

5. The final terms shall not contradict the information included in the base prospectus.

1. An overview section of a prospectus shall only use the term ‘summary’ if it complies with the requirements laid down in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

2. Where the summary of a prospectus is to be supplemented in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the new information shall be integrated in the summary of that prospectus in a way that enables investors to easily identify the changes. The new information shall be integrated in the summary of the prospectus either by producing a new summary or by supplementing the original summary.

1. A specific registration document for equity securities drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 24 to this Regulation.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the specific registration document for the following securities, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, may be drawn up in accordance with Article 29 of this Regulation:(a) the securities referred to in Articles 19(1) and 20(1) of this Regulation;(b) the securities referred to in Article 19(2) of this Regulation, where those securities are exchangeable for or convertible into shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market;(c) the securities referred to in Article 20(2) of this Regulation, where those securities give the right to subscribe or acquire shares that are or will be issued by an entity belonging to the issuer’s group and that are not admitted to trading on a regulated market.

A specific registration document for non-equity securities that is drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 25 to this Regulation.

1. A specific securities note for equity securities drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 26 to this Regulation.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the specific securities note for the securities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 19 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 20 of this Regulation, where those securities are not shares or other transferrable securities equivalent to shares, shall be drawn up in accordance with Article 31 of this Regulation.

A specific securities note for non-equity securities that is drawn up in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall contain the information referred to in Annex 27 to this Regulation.

1. An EU Growth prospectus that is drawn up as a single document shall be composed of the following elements in the following order:(a) a table of contents;(b) where applicable, all information incorporated by reference in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(c) the specific summary;(d) where the EU Growth prospectus is drawn up in the form of a base prospectus, a general description of the offering programme;▼M1(e) the information referred to in section 1 of Annex 24 and section 1 of Annex 26, or the information referred to in section 1 of Annex 25 and section 1 of Annex 27 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;▼B(f) the information referred to in section 2 of Annex 24 or section 2 of Annex 25 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;▼M1(g) for equity securities, the information referred to in item 2.1 of Annex 26 and, where equity securities are issued by an issuer with a market capitalisation above EUR 200 000 000 , the information referred to in item 2.2 of Annex 26 to this Regulation;▼B(h) the information referred to in section 3 of Annex 24 and section 3 of Annex 26, or the information referred to in section 3 of Annex 25 and section 2 of Annex 27, depending on the type of securities;(i) the information referred to in section 4 of Annex 26 or in section 3 of Annex 27 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;(j) the information referred to in section 5 of Annex 26 or in section 4 of Annex 27 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;(k) the information referred to in section 4 of Annex 24 or section 4 of Annex 25, depending on the type of securities;(l) the information referred to in section 5 of Annex 24 or section 5 of Annex 25 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;(m) the information referred to in section 6 of Annex 24 or section 6 of Annex 25 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;(n) where non-equity securities include guarantees, the information referred to in section 5 of Annex 27 to this Regulation;(o) the information referred to in section 7 of Annex 24 or section 7 of Annex 25 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;▼M1(p) where information on the underlying share is required pursuant to Article 19(2), point (b), Article 19(3) or Article 20(2), point (b) of this Regulation, the information referred to in section 6 of Annex 26 to this Regulation or the information referred to in section 6 of Annex 27 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities;(q) where the issuer or the person responsible for drawing up a prospectus consents to its use as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the information referred to in section 7 of Annex 26 or in section 7 of Annex 27 to this Regulation, depending on the type of securities.▼B

2. Where an EU Growth prospectus is drawn up as separate documents, the EU Growth registration document and the EU Growth securities note shall contain the following elements in the following order:(a) EU Growth registration document:(i) a table of contents;(ii) where applicable, all information incorporated by reference in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(iii) any other information referred to in Annex 24 or 25 to this Regulation that, depending on the type of securities, is to be included in the EU Growth registration document following the order of the sections set out in those Annexes.(b) EU Growth securities note:(i) a table of contents;(ii) where applicable, all information incorporated by reference in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(iii) a general description of the programme, in the case of a base prospectus;(iv) any other information referred to in Annex 26 or 27 to this Regulation that, depending on the type of securities, is to be included in the EU Growth securities note following the order of the sections set out in those Annexes.

3. An EU Growth prospectus drawn up either as a single document or as separate documents may take the form of a base prospectus.

4. The SMEs, issuers and offerors referred to in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall follow the order of the sections of the Annexes to this Regulation. They may however deviate from the order of the information items within those sections.

1. The specific summary for the EU Growth prospectus shall provide the key information that investors need to understand the nature and the risks of the issuer, of the guarantor and of the securities that are being offered.

2. The content of the specific summary shall be accurate, fair, clear and not misleading.

3. The specific summary shall be consistent with the other parts of the EU Growth prospectus.

4. The specific summary shall be drawn up as a short document written in a concise manner and shall have a maximum length of six sides of A4-sized paper when printed. The specific summary shall:(a) be presented and laid out in a way that is easy to read, using characters of readable size;(b) be written in a clear, non-technical and concise language that facilitates the understanding of the information and its comprehensibility by investors.

The first subparagraph shall also apply where information is presented in a tabular format.

5. The specific summary shall contain the information referred to in Annex 23 to this Regulation.

6. The specific summary shall not contain cross-references to other parts of the EU Growth prospectus or incorporate information by reference.

7. The specific summary may use sub-headings to present the information referred to in sections 2, 3 and 4 of Annex 23 to this Regulation.

8. The total number of risk factors referred to in items 2.3.1, 3.3(d) and 3.4.1 of Annex 23 to this Regulation and included in the specific summary shall not exceed 15.

9. Where securities are also subject to Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), the competent authority of the home Member State may require the SMEs, the issuers and offerors referred to in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 to substitute the information referred to in section 3 of Annex 23 to this Regulation with the information set out in points (c) to (i) of Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014.

10. Where the substitution referred to in paragraph 9 is not required by the competent authority of the home Member State, the SMEs, the issuers and offerors referred to in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 may substitute the information referred to in section 3 of Annex 23 to this Regulation with the information set out in points (c) to (i) of Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014.

11. Where the information referred to in paragraphs 9 and 10 is substituted, it shall be included as a distinct section of the specific summary and that section shall clearly be identified as including the information set out in points (c) to (i) of Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014.

12. The maximum length of the specific summary referred to in paragraph 4 shall be extended by:(a) one additional side of A4-sized paper where the specific summary contains information about a guarantee attached to the securities;(b) two additional sides of A4-sized paper where a specific summary covers several securities which differ only in very limited details such as issue price or maturity date;(c) three additional sides of A4-sized paper where there is a substitution of information as referred to in paragraphs 9 and 10.

For the purposes of point (c), three additional sides of A4-sized paper may be used for each security where the specific summary covers several securities which differ only in very limited details such as issue price or maturity date.

Where the specific summary of an EU Growth prospectus is to be supplemented in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the new information shall be integrated in the specific summary of that EU Growth prospectus in a way that enables investors to easily identify the changes. The new information shall be integrated in the specific summary of the EU Growth prospectus either by producing a new specific summary or by supplementing the original specific summary.

For the purposes of the scrutiny of the prospectus and the review of the universal registration document, references to the prospectus shall mean the prospectus or any of its constituent parts, including a universal registration document whether submitted for approval or filed without prior approval and any amendments thereto as well as supplements to the prospectus.

1. For the purposes of scrutinising the completeness of the information in a draft prospectus, competent authorities shall consider all of the following:(a) whether the draft prospectus is drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and this Regulation, depending on the type of issuer, the type of issuance, the type of security and the type of offer or admission to trading;(b) whether the issuer has a complex financial history or has made a significant financial commitment, as referred to in Article 18.

2. For the purposes of point (b) of paragraph 1, competent authorities may require the issuer to include, modify or remove information from a draft prospectus, taking into account the following:(a) the type of securities;(b) the information already included in the prospectus and the existence and content of information already included in a prospectus of the entity other than the issuer, as well as the applicable accounting and auditing principles;(c) the economic nature of the transactions by which the issuer has acquired, or disposed of, its undertaking or any part of it, and the specific nature of that undertaking;(d) whether the issuer can obtain with reasonable effort information about the entity other than the issuer.

1. For the purposes of scrutinising the comprehensibility of the information in a draft prospectus, competent authorities shall consider all of the following:(a) whether the draft prospectus has a clear and detailed table of contents;(b) whether the draft prospectus is free from unnecessary reiterations;(c) whether related information is grouped together;(d) whether the draft prospectus uses an easily readable font size;(e) whether the draft prospectus has a structure that enables investors to understand its contents;(f) whether the draft prospectus defines the components of mathematical formulas and, where applicable, clearly describes the product structure;(g) whether the draft prospectus is written in plain language;(h) whether the draft prospectus clearly describes the nature of the issuer’s operations and its principal activities;(i) whether the draft prospectus explains trade or industry specific terminology.

However, competent authorities shall not be required to consider points (g), (h) and (i) where a draft prospectus is to be used exclusively for the purposes of admission to trading on a regulated market of non-equity securities for which a summary is not required by Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

2. For the purposes of the first paragraph, competent authorities may, on a case-by-case basis and in addition to the information referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and Article 33 of this Regulation, require that certain information provided in the draft prospectus be included in the summary.

For the purposes of scrutinising the consistency of the information in a draft prospectus, the competent authority shall consider all of the following:

(a) whether the draft prospectus is free of material discrepancies between the different pieces of information provided therein, including any information incorporated by reference;

(b) whether any material and specific risks disclosed elsewhere in the draft prospectus are included in the risk factors section;

(c) whether the information in the summary is in line with information elsewhere in the draft prospectus;

(d) whether any figures on the use of proceeds correspond to the amount of proceeds being raised and whether the disclosed use of proceeds is in line with the disclosed strategy of the issuer;

(e) whether the description of the issuer in the operating and financial review, the historical financial information, the description of the issuer’s activity and the description of the risk factors are consistent;

(f) whether the working capital statement is in line with the risk factors, the auditor’s report, the use of proceeds and the disclosed strategy of the issuer and how that strategy will be funded.

Competent authorities may require additional information to be included in the prospectus based on the activities of the specialist issuers falling under one of the categories set out in Annex 29.

Where necessary for investor protection, the competent authority may apply criteria in addition to those laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38 for the purposes of scrutinising the completeness, comprehensibility and consistency of the information in the draft prospectus.

1. Where a first draft of a prospectus that is submitted to a competent authority is substantially similar to a prospectus that the same competent authority has already approved, and where that draft prospectus highlights all changes made to that approved prospectus, the competent authority shall only be required to apply the criteria laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38 to scrutinise those changes and any other information affected by them.

2. For the purposes of scrutinizing a universal registration document filed without prior approval that has already been reviewed, or an amendment to such a document, competent authorities shall only be required to apply the criteria laid down in Article 36, 37 and 38 to those parts of the universal registration document or the amendment that have not been reviewed.

3. Where a first draft of a prospectus that incorporates information by reference to a document that has been approved in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 or in accordance with the national provisions transposing Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), competent authorities shall only be required to apply the criteria laid down in Article 38 of this Regulation to scrutinise that information.

4. When applying paragraphs 1, 2 or 3, competent authorities shall request the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market to confirm that all information in the final draft of the prospectus or universal registration document is up-to-date and contains all the information referred to in the Annexes to this Regulation applicable to that prospectus or universal registration document.

5. Where subsequent drafts of the prospectus are submitted to the competent authority, that competent authority, when scrutinising such subsequent drafts, shall only be required to apply the criteria laid down in Articles 36, 37 and 38 to changes made to the preceding draft and to any other information affected by those changes.

1. All drafts of a prospectus shall be submitted to the competent authority in searchable electronic format via electronic means.

When submitting the first draft of the prospectus, the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall provide the competent authority with a contact point for the competent authority to submit all notifications in writing and by electronic means.

2. The following information shall also be submitted to the competent authority in searchable electronic format via electronic means:(a) the list of cross references, where requested by the competent authority in accordance with Article 24(5) of this Regulation, or when submitted on own initiative;(b) where no list of cross reference is requested, a document that identifies any items set out in the Annexes to this Regulation that, due to the nature or type of issuer, securities, offer or admission to trading, have not been included in the draft prospectus;(c) any information that is incorporated into the prospectus by reference as referred to in Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, unless such information has already been approved by or filed with the same competent authority in searchable electronic format;(d) any reasoned request to the competent authority to authorise the omission of information from the prospectus as referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(e) any request to the competent authority to make a notification as referred to in Article 25(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;(f) any request to the competent authority to make a notification as referred to in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;▼M1(g) an appendix where required by Article 26(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, unless no summary is required pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 7(1) of that Regulation;▼B(h) a confirmation that, to the best of the knowledge of the issuer, all regulated information which was required to be disclosed under the national provisions transposing Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5), where applicable, and under Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), has been filed and published in accordance with those acts over the last 18 months or over the period since the obligation to disclose that regulated information commenced, whichever is the shorter, where the issuer is submitting for approval a draft universal registration document or filing a universal registration document without prior approval and seeks to obtain the status of frequent issuer;(i) where a universal registration document is filed without prior approval, an explanation as to how a request for amendment or supplementary information as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 9(9) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 has been taken into account in the universal registration document;(j) any other information requested by the competent authority for the purposes of the scrutiny and approval of the prospectus or the scrutiny, review and approval of the universal registration document.

3. Where a universal registration document that is filed without prior approval is annotated in the margin in accordance with Article 24(6), it shall be accompanied by an identical version without annotations in the margin.

4. Where a universal registration document is filed without prior approval or where a universal registration document is amended, the information referred to in points (a), (b), (c), (d), (h) and (i) of paragraph 2 shall be submitted at the time when the universal registration document is filed with the competent authority whilst the information referred to in point (j) of paragraph 2 shall be submitted during the review process. In all other cases, the information referred to in paragraph 2 shall be submitted together with the first draft of the prospectus submitted to the competent authority or during the scrutiny process.

5. Where a frequent issuer informs the competent authority that it intends to submit an application for approval of a draft prospectus in accordance with the second sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 20(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, that frequent issuer shall do so in writing and by electronic means.

The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall indicate the Annexes to this Regulation relevant for that draft prospectus.

1. Each version of the draft prospectus submitted after the first draft prospectus shall highlight all changes made to the preceding draft and shall be accompanied by an unmarked draft. Competent authorities shall accept marked extracts of the preceding draft prospectus where only limited changes have been made.

2. Where competent authorities, in accordance with Article 45(2) of this Regulation, have notified the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market that the draft prospectus does not meet the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency as referred to in Article 20(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the subsequently submitted draft of the prospectus shall be accompanied by an explanation as to how the outstanding issues notified by competent authorities have been addressed.

3. Where changes made to a draft prospectus are self-explanatory or clearly address the outstanding issues notified by the competent authority, an indication of where the changes have been made to address the outstanding issues shall be considered sufficient explanation for the purposes of paragraph 2.

1. The final draft of the prospectus shall be submitted for approval together with all the information referred to in Article 42(2) that has changed compared to the previous submission, with the exception of the information referred to in points (a) and (h) of that Article. The final draft of the prospectus shall not be annotated in the margin.

2. Where no changes have been made to the information referred to in Article 42(2), the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market shall confirm so in writing and by electronic means.

1. Competent authorities shall acknowledge receipt of the initial application for approval of a draft prospectus or of the filing of a universal registration document as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, or of an amendment to that universal registration document in writing and by electronic means as soon as possible and no later than by close of business on the second working day following the receipt of the application or filing.

Upon receipt of the initial application for approval of a draft prospectus and of the filing of a universal registration document, or of an amendment thereto, the competent authority shall inform the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market of the following:

(a) the reference number of the application or of the filing;

(b) the contact point within the competent authority to which queries regarding the application or the filing may be addressed.

2. Where the draft prospectus does not meet the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency necessary for its approval or where changes or supplementary information are needed, competent authorities shall inform the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market thereof in writing and by electronic means.

Where the universal registration document referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, or an amendment to that universal registration document, does not meet the standards of completeness, comprehensibility and consistency or where amendments or supplementary information are needed, competent authorities shall inform the issuer thereof in writing and by electronic means. Where the shortcoming must be addressed without undue delay, as required by the third subparagraph of Article 9(9) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the competent authority shall inform the issuer thereof.

3. The competent authority shall notify the issuer, offeror or person asking for admission to trading on a regulated market about its decision regarding the approval of the draft prospectus in writing and by electronic means as soon as possible and by no later than by close of business of the day on which that decision is taken.

Regulation (EC) No 809/2004 is repealed.

Prospectuses that have been approved between 21 July 2019 and 16 September 2020 shall continue to be valid until the end of their validity.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 21 July 2019.