Since its launch in 1985, the IPMA Handbook has grown from a few short pages covering the issuance of straight Eurobonds to a comprehensive document covering a broad range of international securities. It is very much a “live document”, continuously responding to market developments when guidance or standardisation is required.

The International Primary Market Association (IPMA) merged with the International Securities Market Association (ISMA) in July 2005, creating the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). The Handbook, however, continues to be referred as the IPMA Handbook pending the publication of a single handbook, consolidating the rules and recommendations of the former IPMA and ISMA. Similarly, the recommendations, standard documentation, guidance notes, etc., contained in the IPMA Handbook continue to be referred as IPMA recommendations, standard documentation, guidance notes, etc.

The IPMA Handbook is available to ICMA members and non-members alike, both in a hard-copy and on-line version.

The considerable advantage of the on-line version is that it is speedily updated by ICMA with any changes or additions and will always represent the definitive version for users. Updates to the hard-copy version are distributed by post on an irregular basis and the onus is on the recipients to ensure that their copy of the Handbook is correctly updated.