THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers and amending Directives 2003/41/EC and 2009/65/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009 and (EU) No 1095/2010 [OJ L 174, 1.7.2011, p. 1.], and in particular Article 3(5) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 3(4) of Directive 2011/61/EU, alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) that meet the conditions provided for in Article 3(2) of that Directive may choose to opt in under it in order to benefit from the rights granted. By opting in, an AIFM becomes subject to the application of Directive 2011/61/EU in its entirety.

(2) Directive 2011/61/EU provides for a procedure for authorisation of AIFMs. The documents and information to be provided under that procedure offer necessary details as to the requesting AIFM and therefore the same documents and procedure should be used in the case of opting in. There are no specific reasons peculiar to opting in that would justify the use of a different procedure than the one applicable to AIFMs with assets under management above the thresholds provided for in Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/61/EU. Consequently, AIFMs choosing to opt in under Directive 2011/61/EU should follow the same procedure as that established for AIFMs that are obliged to seek authorisation under Directive 2011/61/EU.