In this section and for the application of the provisions relating to freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services :
1. The expression “competent authorities” means the authorities of a Member State of the European Union or of a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area empowered under the laws of that State to authorise or supervise investment firms or management companies which have their registered office there;
2. Home State” means, in respect of an investment firm or a management company, the Member State of the European Union or a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in which it has its registered office or, if under its national law it has no such registered office, the Member State of the European Union or a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in which it has its effective centre of management;
3. Host State” means any Member State of the European Union or party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in which the investment firm or the management company carries on business through a branch or under the freedom to provide services;
4. Branch” means one or more unincorporated parts of an investment firm whose purpose is to provide investment services for which it has obtained authorisation and, where appropriate, one or more related services or of a management company which manages one or more UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 or AIFs covered by Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011. All the places of business established in the same Member State of the European Union or party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area by an investment firm or a management company whose registered office is in another Member State of the European Union or party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area are considered to be a single branch;
5. Transaction carried out under the freedom to provide services” means a transaction whereby, without a permanent presence in the host country, an investment firm provides an investment service in that country or a management company manages one or more UCITS authorised in accordance with Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 or AIFs covered by Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011.
6. For the purposes of this section, references to the Member States of the European Union and to the European Union shall be construed as including the other States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.