QED debate on Listing Rules

Finance

Hybrid conference

Discussion Point

How can access to market based financing be improved, especially for SMEs?
Could the listing process be streamlined to achieve a more proportionate regulatory treatment for smaller companies? If so, how?
How can the need for simpler listing rules for SMEs be balanced against a sufficient degree of investor protection, transparency and market integrity?
Should multiple voting rights be allowed all across the EU?
Is there a need for simplified prospectus rules for SMEs?
How could the disclosure obligations for SMEs under MAR be simplified?
How can the production and distribution of research on SMEs be improved?

Programme

14:00-14:30 Registration and networking

14:30-14:35 Introductory remarks by moderator

14:35-15:10 Introductory remarks by speakers

15:10-16:10 Panel Discussion and Q&A

16:10-17:00 Networking

Speakers

Moderator:
Joris De Wolf

Partner, Eubelius

Joris obtained his Master of Laws degree at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He assisted Ekopak on its initial listing on Euronext Brussels and private placement of €56.6 million (2021), and Hyloris Pharmaceuticals on its initial public offering (IPO) of €62 million (2020). He also assisted Xior Student Housing and Mithra Pharmaceuticals with their initial listing on Euronext Brussels and their preceding corporate reorganisations (2015). Furthermore, he assisted a large number of Belgian public regulated real estate companies (BE-REITs) and biotech companies on their public and private capital increases in the past few years. Joris assisted the Adecco group on its €2 billion combination with AKKA Technologies and 3D on its public takeover bid for Zenitel (2021). He also assisted Giled Sciences on its $5.1 billion Transformative R&D Collaboration with Galapagos (2019). He advised Ablynx on its defence against the hostile approach by Novo Nordisk and its subsequent support for the €3.9 billion public tender offer by Sanofi (2018), and he assisted Vastned Retail Nederland on its €100 million contemplated public takeover bid for Vastned Retail Belgium (BE-REIT) (2018). Joris advised Bain Capital Private Equity on the proposed €390 million public takeover bid for Resilux (2017), and he assisted BEVCO (Santo Domingo family) with the Belgian aspects of the combination of AB InBev and SAB Miller (2016). Joris teaches about listed companies as a guest lecturer at the Jan Ronse Institute for Company and Financial Law (KU Leuven). For several year, he was also corporate law assistant at the same institute and at the UHasselt until his mandate ended in 2017. He makes regular contributions to specialised publications and gives lectures on corporate and financial law. He handles cases in Dutch, English and French.