1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment) Regulations 2018.
(2) These Regulations, apart from regulation 4, come into force on 1st March 2018.
(3) Regulation 4 comes into force on 2nd April 2018.
2.—(1) The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013(1) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—
(a)in the definition of “EuSEF Regulation” after “funds” insert “as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2017/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds(2)”;
(b)in the definition of “EuVECA Regulation” after “funds” insert “as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2017/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds”.
(3) In regulation 11 (applications for entry on register of small registered UK AIFMs), after paragraph (4) insert—
“(5) This regulation does not apply in relation to an application for registration as a EuSEF Manager or a EuVECA Manager.”.
(4) In regulation 12 (determination of applications), after paragraph (1) insert—
“(1A) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to an application for registration as a EuSEF Manager or a EuVECA Manager (in respect of which see Article 15(4) of the EuSEF Regulation or Article 14(4) of the EuVECA Regulation).”.
(5) In regulation 13 (procedure when refusing an application)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after “regulation 11(1)” insert “, Article 15 of the EuSEF Regulation or Article 14 of the EuVECA Regulation”;
(b)after paragraph (2), insert—
“(3) Paragraph (2)(a) does not apply in relation to an application for registration as a EuSEF Manager or a EuVECA Manager (in respect of which see Article 15b of the EuSEF Regulation or Article 14b of the EuVECA Regulation).”.
(6) In regulation 15(1) (small registered AIFMs ceasing to meet the requirements for registration), after “(4)(a)” omit “or (c)”.
(7) In regulation 17(1) (grounds for revocation of registration)—
(a)for “Article 14” substitute “Article 15”;
(b)for “Article 13” substitute “Article 14”;
(c)in sub-paragraph (a), after “(4)” insert “(a) or (b)”;
(d)in sub-paragraph (b), omit “, or a requirement imposed by the EuSEF Regulation or the EuVECA Regulation,”.
(8) In regulation 18 (procedure on revocation)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after “17(1)(a) or (b)” insert “, or under Article 22 of the EuSEF Regulation or Article 21 of the EuVECA Regulation”;
(b)in paragraph (2), for “the grounds mentioned in regulation 17(1)(a) or (b)” substitute “such grounds or under such an Article”.
(9) After Part 3A (ELTIFs) insert—
23D.—(1) An application for registration of a qualifying social entrepreneurship fund under Article 15a of the EuSEF Regulation, or of a qualifying venture capital fund under Article 14a of the EuVECA Regulation, must—
(a)be made in such a manner as the FCA may direct; and
(b)contain or be accompanied by such information as the FCA may reasonably require for the purpose of determining the application.
(2) At any time after receiving an application and before determining it, the FCA may require the applicant to provide it with such further information as it considers necessary to enable it to determine the application.
(3) Different directions may be given, and different requirements imposed, in relation to different applications or categories of applications.
(4) The FCA may require an applicant to provide information which it is required to give under paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (2) of this regulation in such form, or to verify it in such manner, as the FCA may specify.
23E.—(1) If the FCA proposes to refuse an application made by a UK AIFM for registration of a qualifying social entrepreneurship fund under Article 15a of the EuSEF Regulation, or of a qualifying venture capital fund under Article 14a of the EuVECA Regulation, it must give the applicant a warning notice.
(2) If the FCA decides to refuse an application—
(a)it must give the applicant a decision notice; and
(b)the applicant may refer the matter to the Tribunal.
23F.—(1) If the FCA proposes to revoke the registration of a qualifying social entrepreneurship fund or a qualifying venture capital fund otherwise than by consent, the FCA must give separate warning notices to the AIFM and the depositary of the qualifying social entrepreneurship fund or qualifying venture capital fund.
(2) If the FCA decides to revoke the registration of a qualifying social entrepreneurship fund or a qualifying venture capital fund otherwise than by consent—
(a)the FCA must give each of the AIFM and the depositary a decision notice; and
(b)either of them may refer the matter to the Tribunal.”.
3. In article 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Qualifying EU Provisions) Order 2013(3)—
(a)in the definition of “EuSEF Regulation” after “funds” insert “as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2017/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds”;
(b)in the definition of “EuVECA Regulation” after “funds” insert “as amended by Regulation (EU) No 2017/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds”.
4. In article 63B(6) (entering into and administering regulated home reversion plans) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001(4)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a) omit “and Wales”; and
(b)after sub-paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)in relation to Wales, means a place at which a care home service, within the meaning of Part 1 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016(5), is provided wholly or mainly to persons aged 18 or over;”.
David Rutley
Mark Spencer
Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury
1st February 2018