After a very successful International Investor Conference by BETTER FINANCE and VZMD (VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VEHLVpKwkMU), the Association has been receiving commendations from Slovenian and foreign guests, partners as well as participants of the event. In addition to commendations for both the content and the technical side of the conference. The excitement was even greater because this was the first time that the representatives and members of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE) and the World Federation of Investors (WFI) met in person since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, also received many praises during the opening of the International Trade Fair MOS in Celje, among others by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša, and the Minister of the Economic Development and Technology, Mr Zdravko Počivalšek.

The VZMD welcomes the recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, which, unlike all other domestic judicial instances, ruled that wiping out shares and bonds (»bail-in«) – while ignoring all due process rules – violated the right to enjoyment of property. Even though the court did not go into details regarding the amount of pecuniary loss, the finding itself that a property right has been violated requires the violation to be remedied with an appropriate pecuniary remuneration. The VZMD also wants to recall the numerous initiatives prepared by its associates for this purpose, which have observed all European frameworks regarding bank bailouts.

PRESENT YOURSELVES at the grand INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR CONFERENCE the side event taking place under the Slovenian EU Presidency and organized by the European Federation of Investors – BETER FINANCE and by the Pan-Slovenian Investors' and Shareholders' Association - VZMD.

Meet the international panel of investors and their associations, decision-makers, and representatives of various institutions - on distinguished sites, in formal and informal setting.

An unprecedented networking opportunity - contact us!

Invest in the future!

A month before the International investor conference and the meeting of the European Federation of Investors and the Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE) and the World Federation of Investors (WFI) in Slovenia, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) published an interview with the VZMD President, mag. Kristjan Verbič. In it, mag. Verbič touches on the main topics of the upcoming conference of the “European Capital Markets for Individual Investors” which is being organized by the VZMD together with BETTER FINANCE and is to take place in September in Bled. The entire interview is published below.

Yesterday, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE), bringing together 43 national organizations and 5 million investors accross EU, published a VIDEO INVITATION: https://youtu.be/u5Fs3H5WLDQ.

With it the Managing Director Guillaume Prache is inviting partners and the international business and investor community to participate at the International Investor Conference, on 13 September in the eminent Grand Hotel Toplice, Bled, which is organized together with VZMD - the PanSlovenian Shareholders' and Investors' Association.

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of our

longtime friend, Roger Ganser,

the inspiring president of the World Federation of Investors (WFI),

Association of Investors USA (BetterInvesting), member of the SEC and

NYSE Board Advisory Council.

Roger has always impressed us as well as enriched our lives with his

presence, wisdom, and remarkable cheerfulness and vitality –

from our first meetings in Sao Paolo, Belo Horizonte, and Rio in Brazil thirteen years ago,

and since then all around Europe, on both friendly visits to Slovenia, all the way to

our earnest and friendly meetings in New York – which were unfortunately out last.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to Roger's loved ones and

hope that the memory of his unique and unforgettable personality, touching resolve

and charming energy will comfort them in this time of grief.

Dear Roger, you will be missed!

Kristjan Verbič

PanSlovenian Shareholders' and Investors' Association

On Saturday, the commemoration of the 105^th anniversary of the construction of the Russian chapel was held below the Vršič pass. Numerous high representatives of diplomacy, economy, politics and culture have traditionally participated in the commemoration. This time the Russian delegation was lead by the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mr. Konstantin Kosachev, while the highest representatives from Slovenia, the president of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek and many members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia also attended.

VIDEO VZMD.tv on the high profile commemoration five years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8MHyUPB24 .

Last Tuesday, the 19th Annual European Financial Services Conference (EUFSConf21) took place; it is considered one of the major events in Brussels that usually attracts over 400 international participants, particularly representatives of banks and the financial industry, decision-makers and policy-makers who discuss each year’s most important issues affecting the European and global financial markets.

In September, an international conference of investors and a meeting of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users is going to take place in Ljubljana (BETTER FINANCE), which will be co-organized by the PanSlovenian Investors' & Shareholders' Association (VZMD) as one of the most active members. The World Federation of Investors (WFI) and other partner organizations, as well as numerous international experts, decision-makers and institution representatives, are invited to participate in the meeting, which is going to take place during the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council. Aside from the meeting of the Legal Committee of BETTER FINANCE, the highlight of the event will certainly be the International conference on measures for long-term participation of investors in EU capital markets and improvements to corporate governance.

The Convention of the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE) – an influential international organization connecting 35 exchanges from 30 European countries – took place under the title “Public Capital Markets Powering Europe`s Recovery”. Although this year the Convention took place online (VIDEO), it was attended by the highest decision makers, representatives from the fields of economy, finance and politics as well as many other distinguished guests and invited delegates. In addition to hearing Mairead McGuinness, the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union – and in light of the upcomingSlovenian presidency of the Council of the EU – the participants were also addressed by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia mag. Andrej Šircelj, who was one of keynote speakers (VIDEO).