The European Commission published today a series of proposals designed to implement the Capital Markets Union (CMU) Action Plan. Among these are the fund management reviews of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and the European Long-Term Investment Fund (ELTIF) Regulation, as well as of the European Single Access Point (ESAP) Omnibus.

Today’s CMU proposals demonstrate the crucial role asset managers, such as private equity and venture capital managers, play in the financing of the European economy, by acting as bridge between investors and businesses. While investors committed more than €100 billion of capital in private equity in 2020, private equity backed companies represent more than €10 million employees.

Invest Europe, the association representing the European private equity industry, welcomes the targeted nature of the AIFMD review, which only focuses on areas related to delegation, loan-origination, and some reporting aspects of the Directive.

Martin Bresson, Director of Public Affairs at Invest Europe, commented: “The limited scope of the review is a clear confirmation that the current regulatory structure, which has withstood many crises since its inception, is to a very large extent appropriate. On this backdrop, we appreciate that the European Commission has taken the “if not broken – don’t mend” approach. That being said, there are a few blemishes that we will aim to assist the co-legislators in addressing as negotiations on the file will move forward”.

Next to the AIFMD, the revision of the ELTIF framework has the potential to drive new managers’ interest into this EU voluntary label which allows long-term AIF managers to market to retail clients. Amendments introduced to the proposal will make it easier for managers to set up ELTIF fund-of-funds and to market ELTIFs in a broader range of jurisdictions. Changes to the conflict of interest and diversification rules are also likely to increase the attractiveness of the regime.

“This CMU package of initiatives is by and large a step in the right direction,” says Martin Bresson. “Even on more controversial amendments, the private equity industry’s concerns and specificities have so far been taken into consideration. We can definitely see this as a recognition of the role our industry can - and will - play in the twin transitions Europe needs”.