04/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) considers the legislative proposal on alternative investment funds, presented last week by the European Commission, “hit the wrong people, at the wrong time, in the wrong way” (see EUROPE 9892). “While we welcome the Commission's distinction between hedge funds and private equity, we are deeply concerned that the thresholds set out today punish middle-market companies, which lie at the heart of corporate Europe. We estimate that around 5,000 portfolio companies will have to comply with costly and unwarranted disclosure rules that go beyond even those required by publicly-listed companies”, the organisation states in a press release. (M.B./transl.jl)