EU venture capital boost to help smaller firms

(BRUSSELS) - Better access to finance for small and growing companies and social enterprises will be the result of EU rules agreed Tuesday by the European Parliament, the Council and the EU Commission.

The proposed regulation is part of the EU's plan to develop a fully functioning capital markets union, diversifying funding sources for Europe's businesses and long-term projects.

"This regulation will help stimulate market financing and thereby boost economic growth," said Malta's finance minister Edward Scicluna, for the EU presidency. For the Commission, vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said: "The reforms we have agreed – expanding investment possibilities for funds, broadening the range of eligible managers and simplifying administration - will help investor capital reach the SMEs that need it."

The EU has been falling behind the United States in this area. According to the Commission, an extra €90 billion would have been available between 2009 and 2014 for financing European companies if venture capital markets had been as developed as in the US.

The proposal adjusts rules adopted in 2013 to encourage investment in European venture capital funds (Euveca) and European social entrepreneurship funds (Eusef).

Amending regulations 345/2013 and 346/2013, it makes those funds available to fund managers of all sizes and expands the range of companies that the funds can invest in. It also makes the cross-border marketing of such funds cheaper and easier.

Regulations 345/2013 and 346/2013 lay down requirements for investment in Euveca and Eusef funds, which relate respectively to:

• young and innovative companies;
• enterprises whose aim is to achieve a positive social impact.

Presidency and Parliament representatives agreed on the following amendments:

• larger fund managers, i.e. those with assets under management of more than €500 million, will henceforth be able to market and manage Euveca and Eusef funds;
• the range of companies in which Euveca funds can invest is expanded to include unlisted companies with up to 499 employees (small mid-caps) and SMEs listed on SME growth markets.

The agreement will now be submitted to EU ambassadors in the coming days for endorsement on behalf of the Council. The Parliament and the Council will then be called on to adopt the regulation without further discussion.

The regulation will start to apply three months after its entry into force.