Administrative fine imposed on Mr Van der Bruggen for de facto management of market manipulation by Imtech

^{1) The AFM has declared the objection against the fine unfounded while supplementing its reasons.} 

On 20 July 2012, Imtech disseminated information that sent or could have sent an incorrect or misleading signal. This means that Imtech violated the ban on market manipulation (Section 5:58, first subsection, opening lines and part d, Wft).

Spreading incorrect or misleading information allows the disseminator of that information to influence the demand for, the offer or price of financial instruments. This creates an artificial price, which does not constitute a realistic representation of the actual economic and financial circumstances of the relevant issuing institutions. This harms the confidence of investors in the sound operation of the financial markets. It is important that investors are provided with full, correct and accessible information.

Imtech issued a press release on 20 July 2012 in which it announced that a contract had been signed for the (further) realisation of the Adventure World Warsaw (AWW) amusement park. The press release includes merely a selection of the information concerning the contract, inter alia concerning the value of the contract and Imtech's role in this project. Other relevant information is lacking, however. At that time, Imtech was aware of the problems relating to the financing of an amount of €147.6 million by AWW. Publishing only part of the information concerning the contract means that Imtech disseminated information that sent or could have sent an incorrect or misleading signal.

De facto management by Mr Van der Bruggen

Mr Van der Bruggen was fully aware of all facts and circumstances and the publication of the press release on 20 July 2012. As Chief Executive Officer, he was one of the two directors at Imtech from 01 May 1999 to 03 April 2013. He was authorised and obliged to intervene. He failed to do so, however. The AFM therefore designates Mr Van der Bruggen as de facto manager of the offence committed by Imtech.

Amount of the fine

The AFM considers the fine of €500,000 appropriate in view of the offences. The AFM took account of Mr Van der Bruggen's financial position when it determined the amount of the fine. The AFM also took account of the fact that the publication of the press release on 20 July 2012 violated the obligation of immediate publication of price-sensitive information (Section 5:25i, second subsection, Wft) and the ban on market manipulation (Section 5:58, first subsection, opening lines and part d, Wft). A fine was imposed on Mr Van der Bruggen for both offences. The AFM also considers it important that Mr Van der Bruggen has returned his variable remuneration for 2010 and 2011 in the amount of €1,500,000 for the settlements with investors. The AFM therefore also took account of the amount handed in by Mr Van der Bruggen when it determined the amount of the fine.

Interested parties can submit the AFM's decision to the courts for review.

If you have questions or complaints, you can contact the AFM's Financial Markets Information Line: 0800-5400 540 (free of charge).