EU Council Backs 'EU Inc.' Startup Regime, With Tighter Rules on Stock Options

Among the surviving elements is the proposed European Employee Stock Option Plan (EU-ESO), a mechanism intended to help startups attract and keep staff by offering equity. The campaign had earlier argued that dropping harmonised stock-option rules would weaken one of the regime's main benefits, since startups frequently rely on equity to compete with larger firms that can pay higher salaries. The retained scheme includes provisions to defer taxation until shares are sold, rather than at the point options are granted, vested or exercised.

Eligibility, however, has been narrowed. Under the Council's position, the relevant tax provisions apply to companies with fewer than 750 employees and annual turnover of no more than €150 million.

DPI Venture Capital closed its $112 million Nclude Fund with 93% of capital from Africa, while Italy's Z_One Fund raised over €35 million at first close.