Qualifying holding
A qualifying holding is a direct or indirect stake of 10% or more of the capital or voting rights in a regulated financial firm, or any stake that gives significant influence over its management. Anyone planning to acquire or increase one must notify the firm's regulator in advance and can be blocked.
How the rule works
The concept comes from EU banking law and applies, with adaptations, to e-money institutions, payment institutions, investment firms and insurers. [CONFIRM: legal, EMD2 Article 3(3) and the Finnish implementing act] A proposed acquirer must notify the regulator before crossing 10%, and again before crossing 20%, 30% and 50%, or before the firm becomes its subsidiary. Reductions below these thresholds must be notified too.The regulator, FIN-FSA in Finland, assesses the acquirer's reputation, financial soundness and the source of the money used, and whether the deal raises money laundering concerns. It can oppose the acquisition within a set assessment period.
Why it matters outside the firm
For investors, a qualifying holding means a regulatory approval step before closing. For a licensed firm's clients and partners, it's one reason ownership changes at regulated providers are slow and public.FAQ
No. A UBO is a person who ultimately owns or controls a company, with a 25% threshold under AML rules. A qualifying holding is a prudential concept with a 10% threshold, and the holder can be a company.
Last reviewed October 21, 2026Disclaimer
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Narvi Payments Oy Ab or its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Narvi Payments Oy Ab or its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
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