When the Company decides an increase in capital by incorporating retained earnings or profits, new shares are allocated free to all existing shareholders, in proportion to the number of shares they already hold.
It was formed on August 1, 2003 from the merger of the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB), the Conseil des Marchés Financiers (CMF) and the Conseil de Discipline de la Gestion Financière (CDGF). The AMF is an independent public body with legal identity and financial autonomy that regulates and controls the French financial markets. Its aim is to: The French Financial Market Authority (AMF) has jurisdiction over: - Collective investment products: the AMF authorizes the formation of SICAVs and FCPs and ensures information of invstors. - Exchanges and market infrastructures: the AMF establishes principles of organization and operation for market undertakings (such as Euronext Paris) and settlement systemes (e.g. Euroclear France). It monitors the markets and the transactions that take place on them. - Professionnals (credit institutions authorized to provide investment services, investment firms, investment management companies, financial investment advisers, direct marketers, ...): the AMF establishes conduct of business rules and professional obligations that must be observed by persons authorized to provide investment services or advices on financial investments.
- Discolsures and Corporate Finance: the AMF sets rules for and monitors transactions involving the securities of publicly traded companies and ensures that tender offers are conducted in orderly fashion. It also monitors companies to ensure that they provide complete, relevant information on a timely basis and in an equitable manner to all market participants.
The AMF may alos conduct inspections and investigations; and, when practices are found to contravene its General Regulations or professional obligations, may impose sanctions.