1.Notwithstanding Articles 44 to 46, Member States may authorise exchange of information between the competent authorities and the following:
(a)the authorities responsible for overseeing the bodies involved in the liquidation and bankruptcy of credit institutions and in other similar procedures; and
(b)the authorities responsible for overseeing persons charged with carrying out statutory audits of the accounts of insurance undertakings, credit institutions, investment firms and other financial institutions.
In such cases, Member States shall require fulfilment of at least the following conditions:
(a)the information shall be for the purpose of performing the supervisory task referred to in the first subparagraph;
(b)information received in this context shall be subject to the conditions of professional secrecy specified in Article 44(1); and
(c)where the information originates in another Member State, it may not be disclosed without the express agreement of the competent authorities which have disclosed it and, where appropriate, solely for the purposes for which those authorities gave their agreement.
Member States shall communicate to the Commission and to the other Member States the names of the authorities which may receive information pursuant to this paragraph.
2.Notwithstanding Articles 44 to 46, Member States may, with the aim of strengthening the stability, including integrity, of the financial system, authorise the exchange of information between the competent authorities and the authorities or bodies responsible under law for the detection and investigation of breaches of company law.
In such cases Member States shall require fulfilment of at least the following conditions:
(a)the information is for the purpose of performing the task referred to in the first subparagraph;
(b)information received in this context is subject to the conditions of professional secrecy specified in Article 44(1); and
(c)where the information originates in another Member State, it may not be disclosed without the express agreement of the competent authorities which have disclosed it and, where appropriate, solely for the purposes for which those authorities gave their agreement.
Where, in a Member State, the authorities or bodies referred to in the first subparagraph perform their task of detection or investigation with the aid, in view of their specific competence, of persons appointed for that purpose and not employed in the public sector, the possibility of exchanging information provided for in the first subparagraph may be extended to such persons under the conditions specified in the second subparagraph.
In order to implement the third subparagraph, the authorities or bodies referred to in the first subparagraph shall communicate to the competent authorities which have disclosed the information, the names and precise responsibilities of the persons to whom it is to be sent.
Member States shall communicate to the Commission and to the other Member States the names of the authorities or bodies which may receive information pursuant to this Article.
The Commission shall draw up a report on the application of the provisions of this Article.