European Banking Authority launches consultation on minimum information requirements for notifications of qualifying holdings acquisitions in credit institutions

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has launched a public consultation on draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) that set out the minimum information a proposed acquirer must provide to the competent authority when notifying an acquisition of a qualifying holding in a credit institution. The RTS aim to harmonise notification content to support a consistent prudential assessment against the five acquisition assessment criteria in the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD). The draft RTS require information on the proposed acquirer’s identity, reputation and financial soundness, and require a business plan to support assessment of the target institution’s sound and prudent management, with more specific information where the acquisition would confer control. They also request information on the legitimate origin of funding sources, including to inform assessment of suspected money laundering or terrorist financing risk. Proportionality measures include exemptions where the competent authority already holds the relevant information, and reduced information requirements for certain acquisition structures where an indirect proposed acquirer is expected to have negligible influence on the target institution. The consultation is open until 18 September 2025. A public hearing will be held by conference call on 15 July from 14:00 to 16:00 CET, with registration closing on 11 July at 16:00 CET; contributions will be published after the consultation closes unless respondents request otherwise.