Capital Market Regulations in Ireland

When discussing about capital market regulations which are available in Ireland, foreign investors should know that this term refers to the stock markets which various types of companies and investment funds can access in this country. Ireland is one of the European states which provides many investment opportunities through numerous vehicles and our team of Irish lawyers can offer their expertise on how to access a local equity market which is suitable to the current financial statute of a local or foreign company. 

 

 

The Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) is the main institution on which local and foreign investors can trade their securities. The Irish Stock Exchange has a long tradition in this field, as it was incorporated in 1793. At the moment, ISE represents one of the top trading markets on a worldwide level. In order to trade on the ISE, investors have to comply with a set of rules and regulations, which are prescribed by the Irish Companies Law, following the directives issued by the European Union in this sense, on which investors can be advised by our lawyers in Ireland. 

 

 

The ISE is comprised of three main markets, addressed to various categories of companies or investors. Entrepreneurs can choose to trade on one of the following: 

 

• the Main Securities Market – addressed to both local and foreign investors;

• the Enterprise Securities Market – available only for small and medium sized companies;

• the Global Exchange Market – addressed only to professional investors. 

 

 

The main regulatory body which verifies the activities of the Irish securities markets is the Central Bank of Ireland, through the Markets Directorate, which has the responsibility for enforcing and verifying the applicability of the following laws:

 

• the Prospectus Directive;

• the Criminal Sanctions for Market Abuse Directive;

• the Transparency Directive;

• the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. 

 

When investing on one of the Irish securities markets, businessmen should receive assistance from an Irish law firm regarding the provisions of the above mentioned laws.

 

Investors who are interested in receiving more information on the capital market regulations applicable here are invited to contact our law firm in Ireland.