On May 7, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced a new portal for investors seeking information on whether a financial services provider is authorized within the European Union. The portal includes registers of the following:

  1. Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) investment firms, including systematic internalizers;
  2. MiFID trading venues;
  3. MiFID data reporting service providers;
  4. Undertakings for the collective investment of transferable securities ( UCITS) management companies; and
  5. Fund managers authorized under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), including funds managed or marketed in the European Union.

The portal also incorporates machine-to-machine functionality and provides reference to sanctions applied by competent authorities in the EU member states.

The portal is available here.

ESMA’s press release announcing the portal is available here.