Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2016)461 - Amendment of Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.



1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

This proposal aims to amend Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on European venture capital funds 1 ("Regulation (EU) No 345/2013") and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds ("Regulation (EU) No 346/2013"). 2

This proposal should be seen in the broader context of work to unlock investment in growing and entrepreneurial businesses. The Investment Plan for Europe 3 provides a comprehensive strategy to promote jobs, growth and investment. A key strand of the Investment Plan is the Capital Markets Union ("CMU") Action Plan, 4 which aims to reduce fragmentation in the capital markets, remove regulatory barriers to the financing of the economy and increase the supply of capital to businesses through establishing a genuine single capital market. The Investment Plan for Europe aims to further mobilise additional private investment using public funds through the European Fund for Strategic Investment ("EFSI") 5 . In this framework, to catalyse private investment into venture capital markets in Europe, a Pan-European fund-of-funds investing in European venture capital is also being established. This will combine private sector capital with support from the EU to attract capital from major institutional investors to the European venture capital asset class and boost the impact of EU support for the European venture capital industry.

The European venture capital funds ("EuVECA") and European social entrepreneurship funds ("EuSEF") fund structures were created to offer new opportunities for market participants to raise and invest capital in innovative small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and social undertakings throughout Europe. SMEs are of great importance to the EU economy as a sector that can generate real growth and returns. While EuVECA funds support young and innovative companies, EuSEF funds focus on enterprises whose aim is to achieve positive social impact.

The source and the availability of financing for an SME are important factors behind its development, growth and success. In order to promote new areas of growth and move towards an innovation-led economy, there is a need to strengthen new avenues of financing to support start-ups, innovative SMEs and social enterprises. Since banks are typically in a less strong position to provide these types of financing, access to venture capital and social entrepreneurship capital is key to financing the growth of this segment of the EU economy. The gap in such funding has been cited repeatedly as an obstacle that needs to be addressed in order to promote EU economic growth. The EU is also falling further behind the US in terms of the venture capital market, rather than catching up. Despite a similar size of economy, the United States provide more risk capital to companies, including SMEs. The CMU Action Plan reported that if the EU venture capital markets were as deep as in the US, as much as €90 billion of funds would have been available to finance companies between 2009 and 2014.In 2014 around 90% of all EU venture capital investments were concentrated in eight Member States: UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, France and Spain. But even in these more developed markets, venture capital represents less than 0.1% of GDP.

In order to further support the development of these markets, the Commission is seeking to ensure that the EuVECA and EuSEF frameworks work as well as possible in supporting venture capital and social investment. The Commission therefore decided to anticipate reviews required under both Regulations in 2017 by starting a legislative review as part of the 2016 Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme ("REFIT") 6 initiative. The aim of the review was to assess how the two frameworks have performed so far, in particular whether they have been effective, efficient, coherent, relevant, and have brought added value to the EU. The review identified a number of factors holding back the development of these funds, in particular the rules that govern the way the funds invest in assets, the way the managers run the funds, how both Regulations interact with other existing investment fund laws and the requirements funds comply with to benefit from the passport across borders.

This Proposal recognises that there are still other factors outside its scope which are holding back the development of venture capital sector in the EU, such as approach to non-bank finance or tax regimes which should be addressed through other dedicated initiatives by Member States. Moreover, these factors will also be addressed in the CMU Action Plan's comprehensive package of measures to support venture capital financing in the EU.

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

This proposal is a part of the CMU Action Plan. The CMU Action Plan is a key priority for the Commission and contains a range of measures to remove capital market barriers and facilitate the financing of SMEs. These include, in particular, actions to strengthen feedback given by banks declining SME credit applications, to reinforce credit information on SMEs, to review the fiscal incentives and tax reliefs Member States offer to SMEs and investors in SMEs.

This proposal is a key part of the CMU Action Plan, helping to diversify funding sources and unlock capital by making it easier for investors, fund managers and portfolio undertakings to benefit from EuVECA and EuSEF funds. Capital markets offer access to a wide range of funding providers and provide an exit opportunity for venture capital and social impact investors, private equity or business angels, which invest in companies at an earlier stage of their development.

Consistency with other Union policies

1.

This proposal complements the other two pillars of the Investment Plan for Europe:


– Mobilising additional private investment using public funds. The EFSI has been created with the aim to mobilise at least €315 billion of additional investment by 2018. EFSI invests in a broad range of sectors, and provides direct financial support to SMEs, mostly through the European Investment Fund.

– Ensuring that investment finance reaches the real economy. The European investment project portal and a European investment advisory hub have been established to help investment finance reach the real economy.

This proposal also complements Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 7 which plays a significant role as driver of SME financing through InnovFin – EU Finance for Innovators, a series of integrated and complementary financing tools and advisory services offered by the European Investment Bank Group which covers the entire value chain of research and innovation. The Commission also manages a programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) 8 which provides SMEs with better access to finance, it delivers business support services and promotes entrepreneurship.

In the context of the Single Market Strategy 9 the Commission is seeking to reduce administrative burdens and make Europe a more attractive destination for innovators from both inside and outside the EU. In particular, the Commission will also launch a Start-up initiative, to initiate a broad assessment of requirements for start-ups and ways to reduce such requirements and, where this is not possible, to facilitate compliance.

2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

Legal basis

The legal basis for this proposal is Article 114 TFEU, which was the legal basis for Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013. The analysis carried out as part of the Impact Assessment report identifies that elements of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 need to be amended to improve and streamline the use of EuVECA and EuSEF funds. Only the EU co-legislators have the competence to make the necessary amendments.

• Subsidiarity

Action at the EU level should be taken only when the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by Member States in the framework of their national constitutional systems.

The internal market for venture capital and social impact funds as laid down in Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 remains fragmented and further action is needed to reinforce the European framework for the cross-border fundraising of such funds. This proposal would further lead to convergence and a strengthened internal market for venture capital and social entrepreneurship funds. Therefore, the objectives of this Regulation can only be achieved by action at the Union level.

The identified problems concern limitations and divergences in the application of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 across Member States. Leaving such limitations and divergences risks generating more fragmentation and will lead to missed opportunities. Only co-ordinated EU intervention through this proposal can resolve these issues. Therefore, the EU level is the only appropriate level at which to address these problems in order to ensure uniform rules are applied consistently across all Member States.

Proportionality

This proposal strengthens the use of EuVECA and EuSEF labels. Neither Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 nor this proposal confers exclusivity on the EuVECA and EuSEF funds in the sector of venture capital and social impact funds. This Regulation maintains the exclusive use of EuVECA and EuSEF labels by EuVECA and EuSEF funds respectively. The Member States under Directive 2011/61/EU on Alternative Investment Fund Managers ("AIFMD") 10 remain free to determine national regimes for venture capital and social impact funds.

This proposal strikes a balance between public interest, protection of investors, safety and trust considerations as well as related costs. Unnecessary burdens are avoided: it is proposed that management and marketing of funds covered by Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 be opened up to a new group of managers subject to AIFMD and only those requirements of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 which are sector specific and not required under AIFMD, registration of funds is streamlined and it is clarified that fees and similar charges may not be imposed by competent authorities of host Member States.

Choice of the instrument

The proposed instrument is a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council.

3. RESULTS OF EX-POST REVIEW, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Review of existing legislation

Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 were included in the European Commission's REFIT programme. Further details about this review can be found in the section 'Regulatory fitness and simplification' below.

Ex-post evaluation/fitness check

The Commission decided to accelerate the planned review of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 scheduled for 2017 and to start a legislative review as part of the 2016 REFIT work programme. 11

Given that Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 have only been applicable since mid-2013, a full evaluation could have not been possible as it is too early to firmly conclude on long-term impacts. Instead, the evaluation provides an assessment of the initial impact of the Regulations, focusing on the potential factors that may have prevented the wider take-up of the funds, in comparison to initial expectations. The review is annexed to the Commission's Impact Assessment report and its conclusions are as follows:

Regarding the effectiveness of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013, while the take-up of the opportunities offered by the Regulation (EU) 345/2013 could still be further improved, the limited take-up under Regulation (EU) 346/2013 is clearly unsatisfactory. Both Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 are limited by a range of barriers, in particular limitations on large managers whose portfolios exceed €500 million that may not use the 'EuVECA' and 'EuSEF' labels, a €100,000 minimum entry ticket for non-professional investors and specific limitations on eligible investments (i.e. the definition of qualifying portfolio undertakings). For smaller funds the minimum €100,000 investment has been mentioned as a potential barrier, however smaller investments for non-professional investors are already available in SME assets, through a number of alternative tools (e.g. crowdfunding, IPOs etc). EuSEF and EuVECA funds are different instruments for the longer term (e.g. these funds have a minimum lock-up period of five years) which requires higher thresholds and more investor protection.

As of the beginning of April 2016 there were 70 EuVECA funds registered in the ESMA database. For EuSEF funds, there are four funds registered in only two Member States: one EuSEF fund registered in France and three EuSEF funds in Germany, with total assets under management of € 32 million.

With regards to efficiency, the review identifies differing requirements in different jurisdictions, in particular set-up fees, additional costs charged by host Member States and the required levels of sufficient own funds. In some instances, such practices amount to gold-plating going beyond the requirements of the Regulations which in turn constitute an impediment to the setting up and cross-border marketing of both EuVECA and EuSEF funds. In terms of relevance, Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 are recognised as integral to the work on CMU. Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 form part of the Commission's initiative to increase non-bank finance for the economy, and are aligned with the objectives of the Investment Plan for Europe to increase competitiveness and stimulate investments for the purpose of job creation.

Coherence is achieved due to Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 being complementary to AIFMD, as they cover small managers whose portfolios are below €500 million with a view to give them the opportunity to market both EuVECA and EuSEF funds across borders.

In terms of their EU added value, Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 address a gap that existed in legislation before their adoption, which aimed to create the ability for small managers to market funds across borders and to increase the amount of non-bank capital available for investment in start-ups and social enterprises. Further EU added value derives from the Regulations, being 'single rule books' aiming to ensure that investors have the best possible and most comparable information for investing in both EuVECA and EuSEF funds across Europe.

Stakeholder consultations

This proposal builds on a number of public consultations, namely a public consultation launched by the Building a Capital Markets Union Green Paper (18 February 2015 to 13 May 2015), a public consultation on the review of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 (30 September 2015 to 6 January 2016), a public consultation launched by the Call for evidence: EU regulatory framework for financial services (30 September 2015 to 31 January 2016) and a targeted technical workshop (27 January 2016).

Results of the consultations suggest that there is widespread support for broadening the range of managers permitted to manage and market funds using the 'EuVECA' and 'EuSEF' labels by including managers authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU. This proposal opens up the market for EuVECA and EuSEF funds to AIFMD-authorised managers so that they can offer a full range of products to clients from their home and other Member States which in turn would increase the overall penetration of such funds. Those managers will have to continue complying with the AIFMD requirements and also be compliant with selected rules of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 respectively.

Stakeholders expressed mixed views over reducing the minimum €100,000 investment required to invest in EuVECA and EuSEF funds by non-professional investors. Some respondents were in favour of reducing this minimum entry ticket. They suggested broadening the range of potential investors in order to increase choice for non-professional investors. Other respondents considered the risk profile, contractual obligations and illiquid nature of investing in venture capital and social enterprises to not necessarily be suitable for retail investors with less capital. Others noted that additional tailored investor protection rules would be necessary to support this group of investors, the cost of which would not offset potential increases in investor base. A portfolio approach for individual investors similar to that of Regulation (EU) 2015/760 on European long-term investment funds 12 was cited as an example of the level of protection that might be required. With consideration of the above arguments, this proposal maintains the entry ticket of €100,000 for the following reasons: the reduced minimum investment would introduce significant investor protection risks and might, in turn, hamper investor confidence in EuVECA and EuSEF funds. Lowering the investment threshold would inevitably need to be coupled by additional retail investor protection measures which would both introduce costs and detract from the ultimate benefit of more flexible EuVECA and EuSEF fund regimes.

The indirect costs on managers for registering EuVECA and EuSEF funds include own funds requirements. Respondents stressed that competent authorities vary in their interpretation of 'sufficient own funds', with some competent authorities applying the full requirements for authorised managers under AIFMD. Respondents also questioned the compatibility of additional fees charged by some host Member States with Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013. This proposal tackles the goldplating issue by requesting the European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") to develop regulatory technical standards on methodologies for determining the amounts of sufficient own funds. It also clarifies that host Member States may not charge fees on cross-border EuVECA and EuSEF funds.

Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 prohibit the imposition of any requirements or administrative procedures in relation to the marketing of qualifying venture capital funds in host Member States. To ensure that the prohibition is consistently observed in all Member States, this Regulation explicitly provides that host Member States may not impose fees and other charges.

The majority of responses supported an expansion of the range of assets eligible for investment by EuVECA funds, with the argument made that the definition of qualifying portfolio undertakings under Regulation (EU) 345/2013 is too restrictive. Reasons for this included the difficulty for managers in identifying sufficient investments within the definition and the attractiveness of making follow-on investments. Responses also suggested increasing the limit on employee numbers and removing the turnover and balance sheet limits. This proposal permits investments in undertakings with up to 499 employees (small mid-caps). This modification aligns the scope of eligible investments under Regulation (EU) 345/2013 with venture capital programmes managed by the European Investment Fund and supported by EU financial programmes such as the InnovFin facility. In addition, this proposal also permits investment in small and medium-sized enterprises listed on a SME growth market as defined in Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, 13 to allow growth stage entities that have already access to other sources of financing to also receive capital from EuVECA funds. This proposal also permits follow-on investments in a given undertaking which after the first investment does not meet the definition of the qualifying portfolio undertaking any more.

Collection and use of expertise

The Commission has relied on information provided by ESMA. The Commission also organised a targeted technical workshop on 27 January 2016, bilateral meetings, teleconferences with stakeholders and used statistics provided by industry associations.

Impact assessment

This proposal is accompanied by an Impact Assessment report that considers a range of policy options, namely whether to allow AIFMD-authorised managers to use the 'EuVECA' and 'EuSEF' labels, whether to expand the definition of qualifying portfolio undertakings in Regulation (EU) 345/2013, whether to maintain the minimum entry ticket, and whether to specify administrative processes and additional measures imposed by host Member States.

The Regulatory Scrutiny Board delivered a positive opinion with recommendations to further improve the draft Impact Assessment report on 13 May 2016. The draft report has subsequently been modified to take into account comments from the Board. 14 The main changes related to the context and timing of the legislative revision, the presentation of the preferred options and simplification elements and administrative cost savings. The revised Impact Assessment report and an Executive summary of the Impact Assessment report are published with this proposal. 15

The table below provides a summary of the different measures chosen, together with an assessment of their impact on relevant stakeholders, benefits and proportionality.

Preferred policy optionsCost impactsBenefits for managers managing EuVECA and EuSEF funds, investors and portfolio undertakingsProportionality
Allow AIFMD-authorised managers to use the 'EuVECA' and 'EuSEF' labels

2.

Expand the definition of qualifying portfolio undertakings in Regulation (EU) 345/2013


Maintain the €100,000 minimum investment

Explicit provisions in Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 to avoid burdensome administrative processes and additional measures (including fees imposed by host Member States) and non-proportionate requirements imposed by home Member States.
As the main features of the regime have been preserved, there will be no additional costs for asset managers.

The costs are likely to be lower than currently as the adapted rules will explicitly specify how proportionality is to be achieved in the requirements.

Allowing AIFMD-authorised managers to use the 'EuVECA' and 'EuSEF' labels is likely to have a positive impact on fees paid by investors to managers, as AIFMD-authorised managers rely on more economies of scale.

Maintaining the €100,000 threshold also ensures new consumer protection requirements, such as depositary or diversification rules, are not required. These would otherwise increase costs for the asset managers and indirectly increase the fees paid by investors.


No impact on the EU budget.

The main features of the regime have been preserved for small asset managers and will be further reinforced.

The balanced approach between investor protection and lower cost and flexibility of the regime is preserved.

There are no additional risks for investors.

AIFMD-authorised managers will benefit from the EuVECA and EuSEF funds frameworks and will be able to market EuVECA and EUSEF funds to non-retail investors and other investors able to commit €100.000. They may also target institutional investors such as insurance companies that are already incentivised to invest in this fund framework under Solvency II Delegated Acts.

As more asset managers will be able to use EuVECA and EuSEF labels, this in turn will have a positive impact on investment in SMEs, small mid-caps and social undertakings.

Broadening the definition of qualifying portfolio undertaking to include larger entities will permit portfolios of EuVECA funds to be diversified and allow small mid-cap entities to have access to EuVECA financing.

Expanding the definition of qualifying portfolio undertaking in Regulation (EU) 345/2013 by allowing investment in SME growth markets will foster the development of these markets.

Investors will have access to EuVECA portfolios with greater diversification, and potentially lower risk.

The administrative burden on EuVECA and EuSEF managers will be reduced.

The preferred options are coherent with other legislation and initiatives, in particular AIFMD, SME growth markets under Directive 2014/65/EU, CMU, and reinforce EU financing programmes, including Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME), Horizon 2020 and European Fund for Strategic Investments.
The preferred options take account of the principle of proportionality, as enshrined in Article 5 i TEU, being adequate to reach the objectives and not going beyond what is necessary in doing so.

The selected policy options seek to strike the right balance between public interest, protection of investors, safety and trust considerations as well as related costs. Unnecessary burdens are avoided.

The proposed rules do not go beyond what is necessary to achieve a common legal framework for EuVECA and EuSEF funds. They have been carefully considered and tailored to support the specific features, growth potential and innovativeness of the EuVECA and EuSEF sectors.


Regulatory fitness and simplification

Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 are voluntary fund frameworks so their take up depends on stakeholder interest in setting up such fund vehicles. This proposal reduces unnecessary burdens and costs for managers willing to set-up EuVECA and EuSEF funds.

Managers of EuVECA and EuSEF funds are currently subject to registration processes under Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 and Directive 2011/61/EU. This proposal avoids such duplicative requirements. The review of Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 reveals that for the same size of fund, sufficient own funds can range across Member States from €6,500 to €125,000, the upper threshold being in line with the full capital requirements on AIFMD-authorised managers. To avoid such goldplating, this proposal lays down that the methodologies for determining the amount of sufficient own funds should be developed in regulatory technical standards by ESMA. In addition, the review also reveals that some competent authorities charge fees for marketing of cross-border EuVECA and EuSEF funds on their territories. The annual fees range from €300 to €3,000, being the same levels as for cross-border alternative investment funds marketed by AIFMD-authorised managers. In addition, some host Member States also charge one-off fees ranging from €300 to €3,000 when cross-border marketing commences. This proposal prohibits this practice.

In this respect, the IA Report suggests around €40,500 of cost savings per year per EuVECA and EuSEF fund marketed in 27 Member States and total of €32 million in five years in cost savings for all new EuVECA funds.

• Fundamental rights

This Regulation respects fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is in line with Article 16 on freedom to conduct a business as it opens up marketing of funds under EuVECA and EuSEF labels to other regulated managers. It also promotes Article 47 on the right to remedy and to a fair trial as it ensures the right of appeal before courts, including situations where no decision is taken by competent authorities.

This Regulation has to be applied in accordance with those rights and principles.

4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

This proposal has no implications for the budget of the European Union.

5. OTHER ELEMENTS

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

The amended Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 will be evaluated four years after they enter into force.

Monitoring and evaluation will focus on four issues: (i) whether the modified frameworks are attractive for AIFMD-authorised managers to market EuVECA and EuSEF funds, (ii) whether the frameworks have contributed to an increase in assets under management in EuVECA and EuSEF funds, and more broadly to assets invested in venture capital and social impact companies, (iii) whether the modified qualifying portfolio undertaking criteria increased the capital raised, and investments undertaken, by EuVECA funds, and (iv) whether explicit provisions on the prohibition for host Member States to impose fees and sufficient own funds have decreased administration and marketing costs for EuVECA and EuSEF funds.

Indicators for this monitoring would include (i) overall data on EU venture and social impact capital sectors, including venture and social impact capital funds which are neither EuVECA nor EuSEF funds, (ii) the number of EuVECA and EuSEF funds and the number of AIFMD-authorised managers managing and marketing EuVECA and EuSEF funds as well as the number of EuVECA and EuSEF managers registered under Regulation (EU) 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013, (iii) value of assets under management in EuVECA and EuSEF funds and average size of such funds, (iv) the cost of marketing of cross-border EuVECA and EuSEF funds, (v) consistency of level of own funds held by EuVECA and EuSEF managers and (vi) cost of setting up funds. Monitoring will be conducted in co-operation with ESMA, tasked with keeping a register of EuVECA and EuSEF managers and EuVECA and EuSEF funds and, where available, based on the reporting under AIFMD. Commercial data and reports concerning the EuVECA and EuSEF funds and EU venture capital and social impact companies will also be reviewed to capture the impacts of EuVECA and EuSEF funds in a broader perspective.

Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

Point (1) of Article 1 and Point (1) of Article 2 allow managers of collective investment undertakings authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU that manage portfolios of qualifying venture capital and qualifying social entrepreneurship funds to use the ‘EuVECA’ and ‘EuSEF’ designations respectively in relation to the marketing of those funds in the Union. Such managers will have to register their EuVECA and EuSEF funds and comply with specific provisions under Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 respectively, in particular 30% threshold for non-qualifying investments, rules on eligible investors, specific disclosures to investors and notifications. Such managers managing EuSEF funds will also have to comply with provisions setting out procedures to measure the extent to which the qualifying portfolio undertakings in which those funds invest achieve measurable positive social impacts.

Point (2) of Article 1 redefines the qualifying portfolio undertaking's definition in Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 and includes either unlisted undertakings which employ up to 499 persons or small and medium-sized enterprises listed on a SME growth market which are defined in points (12) and (13) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU. It also permits follow-on investments in qualifying portfolio undertakings, namely undertakings that do not meet the definition criteria but met them at the time of the first investment by the qualifying venture capital fund in those undertakings. Point (2) of Article 1 and Point (2) of Article 2 modify the definition of the competent authority and the definition of the home Member State.

Point (3) of Article 1 and Point (3) of Article 2 entrust ESMA with the development of draft regulatory technical standards specifying the methodologies for the determination of sufficient own funds. The methodologies have to distinguish between internally and externally managed EuVECA and EuSEF funds, take into account the size and internal organisation of the managers registered under Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 and managers authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU and ensure that the amounts constituting sufficient own funds do not exceed the amounts laid down in Article 9 of Directive 2011/61/EU.

Point i of Article 1 and Point i of Article 2 aim to streamline the registration process. Firstly, the provisions establish that the competent authority of the home Member State informs managers on whether they have been registered no later than two months after they have provided all the required information. Secondly, the provisions aim to avoid duplicative registration processes under Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 and Directive 2011/61/EU.

Point (5) of Article 1 and Point (5) of Article 2 lay down the conditions for registration of EuVECA and EuSEF funds by managers authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU. This Regulation permits the registration of EuVECA and EuSEF funds by those managers in Member States other than the Member States in which those managers are authorised. Points (5) ensure that any refusal to, or failure to act, register the managers or EuVECA and EuSEF funds must be substantiated, notified and subject to a right of appeal before the courts.

Point (6) of Article 1 and Point (6) of Article 2 explicitly provide that fees and other charges may not be imposed by competent authorities of host Member States in relation to cross-border marketing of EuVECA and EuSEF funds. They also extend the cross-border notifications between national supervisory bodies as regards EuVECA and EuSEF funds registered and marketed by managers authorised in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU.

Point (7) of Article 1 and Point (7) of Article 2 ensure that ESMA database includes information concerning all managers of EuVECA and EuSEF funds and the funds that they market.

Point (8) of Article 1 and Point (8) of Article 2 modify a date by which Member States should notify rules applicable to breaches of Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013, including breaches by managers authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU that use the ‘EuVECA’ and ‘EuSEF’ designations in relation to the marketing of EuVECA and EuSEF funds.

Point (9) of Article 1 and Point (9) of Article 2 ensure the enforcement of Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 or Regulation (EU) 346/2013 vis-à-vis managers authorised under Article 6 of Directive 2011/61/EU that manage qualifying venture capital and qualifying social entrepreneurship funds and use the ‘EuVECA’ and ‘EuSEF’ designations respectively in relation to the marketing of those funds.

Point (10) of Article 1 and Point (10) of Article 2 lay down the review of Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 and Regulation (EU) 346/2013 would take place four years after the Regulations' entry into application.