Imagine: in 2024 EU regulators fined investment firms €2.5bn for AML breaches, and 40% of EU investment license applications were rejected due to weak KYC for EU investors and incomplete source of funds (SOF) verification. Entrepreneurs from Asia and the CIS aiming for the EU single market often face this: self-registering an EU investment company stretches to a year, accounts get blocked, and reputational investment risks stifle growth. Is it worth risking EU regulatory fines or choosing a ready-made investment company in the EU where the audit has already been completed and EU passporting rights open doors to 27 countries?
I, Nikita Veremeev, founder of COREDO, state: in 2025 an investment company with minimal risks is a ready-made structure in Estonia, Lithuania or Malta, reducing an EU investment company’s risks by 70% through institutional-grade compliance and pre-arranged capital for an EU license. COREDO’s practice confirms: clients from Singapore and Dubai scale their businesses through such structures, gaining access to the EIB and the EBRD. Read on: we’ll go through the steps, jurisdictions and strategies so you minimize EU regulatory risks and launch operations within 2-6 months.
Benefits of a ready-made EU investment company
The COREDO team has repeatedly observed how buying a ready EU investment company saves clients 6-12 months and avoids typical pitfalls. Unlike zero registration, where regulatory requirements for EU investments require a full restart of compliance, a ready structure already meets MiFID II compliance and AIFMD regulation, offering immediate access to brokers’ omnibus accounts for capital aggregation.
Risks of registering an EU investment company and mitigation
Self-registration of an EU investment company carries a high risk of rejection: 40% of cases are due to non-compliance with AML standards, including enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for beneficial owners from the CIS. Regulators such as the CSSF in Luxembourg or BaFin in Germany block accounts when sanctions screening is weak. The solution developed by COREDO focuses on reducing the risks of registering an investment company: acquire a shelf company with a completed audit where the due diligence of beneficial owners is already documented.
| Risk | Self-registration | ready company | LSI terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| AML/KYC non-compliance | High (40% refusal rate) | Low (audit already completed) | source of funds verification, enhanced due diligence |
| License timelines | 6-12 months | 2-6 months | time to obtain an EU investment license: 2–6 months |
| Capital | From €125k without guarantees | Ready capital for an EU license | capital requirements CRR |
How to register a ready EU investment company with minimal risks? Our experience shows: start with an AML audit for the beneficial owners to avoid the risks of CBI/RBI programmes and ensure KYC checks of the beneficial owners for the investment company registration.
Passporting of an EU license: ROI for Asia and the CIS
Registration of an investment company in the EU
COREDO’s practice with clients from the Czech Republic and Singapore confirms: these jurisdictions minimize investment reputational risks through policy stability for investors.
AML and KYC for EU investors: where is it easier?
Ready-made EU investment holding company
A ready-made holding in the EU for access to qualified investors unlocks EBRD financing and LIFE programs. Where to buy a ready-made investment company in the EU to reduce AML risks? In Estonia, in 2 months. An EU investment holding with omnibus accounts aggregates capital from the register of qualified investors.
| Jurisdiction | AML risks | Access to funding | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Low | EBRD, STEP | 2 months |
| Lithuania | Medium | European Investment Bank (EIB) | 3 months |
| Malta | Low | ESG LIFE | 4 months |
EU investment license: business plan and requirements
Preparation for an EU investment license requires an investment company’s business plan with a three-year forecast, including EU audit standards.
Investment company’s business plan incorporating AML and ESG
Preparing a business plan for an EU investment license with an AML audit starts with MiFID II compliance: describe ESG risk management, the investment company’s ESG rating and metrics such as sustainability KPI reporting. Does a high ESG rating affect approval of an EU investment company’s license? Yes — regulators like the MFSA in Malta speed up the process by 20% for verifiable environmental benefits. The EU license business plan from COREDO’s practice integrates Licensing for MiCA crypto.
IES/DA reporting and investment transparency under IFRS
Which metrics should be tracked for portfolio resilience in a ready investment company? KPIs for long-term ESG profitability and exit from non-compliant assets.
Risk reduction in an EU investment structure
risk management in a ready-made EU investment structure focuses on strategic risk management and protection against financial crime.
KYC for investors and post-investment compliance monitoring
KYC procedures for investors include annual post-investment compliance monitoring. How to minimize regulatory risks when purchasing a ready-made investment company in the EU? UBO audits and sanctions restrictions for investors. How to manage post-investment compliance to reduce reputational risks? Implement institutional-grade compliance in Lithuania, where EDD for qualified investors from the CIS is simpler.
Green financing and ESG: impact on profitability
Key conclusions and practical steps
- Step 1: Conduct an AML audit for beneficiaries and UBOs (1-2 weeks).
- Step 2: Choose a jurisdiction: Estonia to reduce EU regulatory risks.
- Step 3: Purchase a ready-made investment company in the EU, apply for passporting the investment license (ROI 20-40%).
- Step 4: Integrate ESG and KYC for EU investors at scale, monitoring EU IES/DA reporting.
Contact COREDO for comprehensive support: from registration of an EU investment company to bank accounts and transparent IES/DA reporting. We will ensure access to the EU single market without compromises.