Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
| Autoriteit Financiële Markten | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 2002 |
| Superseding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Employees | 300 |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | http://www.afm.nl |
The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Dutch: Autoriteit Financiële Markten) is the financial services regulatory authority for the Netherlands. Its role is comparable to the role of the SEC in the United States.
History
The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets was set up on 1 March 2002 as the successor to the Securities Board of the Netherlands (Dutch: Stichting Toezicht Effectenverkeer - STE). As part of the legislation that created the AFM, its responsibilities were greatly expanded to cover all financial products, including savings, investments, loans, insurance and accounting.
The AFM falls under the political responsibility of the Minister of Finance but is an autonomous administrative authority, which means that the AFM operates autonomously based on the powers given by the Minister of Finance.
Responsibilities and operations
The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets is the body responsible for regulating behaviour on the financial markets in the Netherlands. This includes regulating the behaviour of all parties involved with the savings, loans, investment and insurance markets. It includes regulating all organisations that provide financial products and those that issue products, including stock exchanges.
The AFM has the following three aims:
- making the financial markets more accessible
- promoting the smooth operation of the financial markets
- promoting confidence in the financial markets.
The public, the business sector and the government all depend on the financial products offered on the various markets for many of their activities. Confidence in the orderly and honest operation of these markets is therefore crucial.
The AFM works in conjunction with the De Nederlandsche Bank which is responsible for prudential regulation in the Netherlands.
Administration
The board of the AFM consists of:
- Hans Hoogervorst (since September 2007, Chairman)
- Rene Maatman (since May 2008)
- Theodor Kockelkoren (since March 2008)
Previous board members:
- Paul Koster (since March 2001-March 2008)
- AW Kist (since September 2005 to August 7, 2007)
On March 13, 2007 Mr. Koster announced his resignation with effect of 1 Jan 2008, however at the request of the government he remained in office as director until April 1, 2008.
International
With the advent of Euronext stock exchange which is not only located in Amsterdam, but also in Paris, Brussels, London and Lisbon, the AFM works closely with the regulators in those other countries to regulate this cross border stock exchange.
The AFM is a member of the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), which is actively contributing to the harmonisation of financial regulation in Europe.
The AFM also participates in the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which brings together more than 80 securities regulators from all around the world.