Contact: Jennifer A. Galloway, Chief Communications Officer
(703) 797-6600
jgalloway@msrb.org
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RULEMAKING BOARD PROVIDES GUIDANCE
ABOUT THE CONTINUING DISCLOSURE SERVICE ON EMMA
Issuers Are Encouraged to Register, Test Service Before July 1, 2009
Alexandria, VA - In preparation for the July 1, 2009 start date for the continuing disclosure service on the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) system, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board plans to provide periodic updates that will be available in the News & Announcements section of the EMMA website and in the Press Release section of the MSRB website. Any updates about the continuing disclosure service will be posted as soon as they become available.
The MSRB is introducing many changes to improve transparency in the municipal securities market and recognizes that submitting continuing disclosures to EMMA will be a new experience for issuers. The MSRB is working to make the transition to this new process a simple one for issuers.
Municipal bond issuers and obligors should know that registration with EMMA is required before they can submit continuing disclosure documents. The registration process will be available on or around May 26, 2009 and the MSRB recommends that issuers register before they must submit documents beginning July 1, 2009. Issuers and obligors will be able to go to the EMMA Dataport, located on upper right portion of www.emma.msrb.org, to create an account. This is the same location where users will log into EMMA to submit documents.
"The continuing disclosure service on EMMA will provide issuers and the market with a powerful, single repository for ongoing information about municipal bonds starting July 1st," said MSRB Executive Director Lynnette Kelly Hotchkiss. "We encourage issuers and obligors to register early and learn about the new continuing disclosure process as soon as possible. We also encourage financial advisors and bond lawyers to understand the new filing requirements so they may assist their issuer clients." Hotchkiss noted that on July 1, issuers will be able to manage agents who may submit documents on issuers' behalf.
All issuers must be prepared and ready to submit continuing disclosure documents to EMMA beginning July 1 and may wish to consult now with their disclosure agent, disclosure counsel, bond counsel, financial advisor or trustee to learn more about their continuing disclosure obligations.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has designated EMMA as the only official repository for continuing disclosure documents beginning July 1. On that date, issuers will file these documents exclusively with EMMA and the current Nationally Recognized Municipal Securities Information Repositories will cease to exist.
The information systems that the MSRB is implementing to support the SEC's mandate are significant. Importantly, the MSRB has estimated the increased user traffic associated with data submission and access and believes its systems have been built to scale to those estimates. In the event user traffic and data volumes exceed estimates to the point of impacting standard service levels, we ask for the industry's patience. MSRB is committed to resolving any issues relating to EMMA system features as they arise.
