The European Banking Authority (EBA) published on 17 July 2026 its final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) and Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on material acquisitions, transfers of assets or liabilities, mergers and divisions involving credit institutions or financial holding companies under the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD). The standards aim to support banking consolidation and deepen EU market integration by clarifying supervisory expectations, reducing regulatory uncertainty, and promoting a consistent prudential assessment framework across the European Union.
The draft RTS set out streamlined information requirements for notifications, define a common assessment methodology and specify the procedures for material transactions. The draft ITS complement this framework by establishing clear processes and timelines to facilitate effective cooperation among supervisory authorities involved in such transactions. Proportionality is a core feature: the RTS exempt institutions from submitting information already held by competent authorities and leverage documentation prepared under the Company Law Directive. Information requirements and assessment are further simplified for intra-group material transactions. Competent authorities will be required to inform applicants without undue delay whether they will exercise discretion not to assess certain intra-group acquisitions or mergers, where permitted under the CRD. A simplified regime is introduced for mergers and divisions involving smaller entities, reducing administrative burdens while safeguarding financial stability. The standards also address cases where a single transaction triggers multiple notification requirements under the CRD, introducing harmonised terminology and common information requirements to streamline processes.
The legal basis for the RTS is Article 27b of Directive 2013/36/EU, as amended by Directive (EU) 2024/1619, which mandates the EBA to specify the list of minimum information, a common assessment methodology, and the notification and assessment process. The ITS are mandated under Articles 27c and 27k CRD to foster cooperation among multiple authorities. The Company Law Directive (Directive (EU) 2017/1132) has also been considered for mergers and divisions.
The standards primarily impact credit institutions and financial holding companies, which will benefit from reduced duplication and clearer procedures, potentially lowering compliance costs for cross-border transactions. National competent authorities will gain a harmonised assessment framework, facilitating cooperation and reducing disputes. Smaller institutions benefit from a simplified regime, easing administrative burdens. EU taxpayers and the broader financial system may see enhanced stability through more efficient consolidation, though the standards impose new procedural obligations on supervisors and applicants alike. The final draft RTS and ITS have been submitted to the European Commission for adoption as binding EU law.