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Buy an EMI Licence — Acquire an E-Money Institution

Acquire an existing SEMI or AEMI licence to issue electronic money and provide payment services. Expert acquisition management.

Acquire an E-Money Institution Licence

An E-Money Institution (EMI) licence — whether a Small EMI (SEMI) or Authorised EMI (AEMI) — provides your business with the permissions to issue electronic money and provide payment services in the UK, making it one of the most sought-after regulatory licences in the fintech sector. Purchasing an existing EMI licence is frequently the fastest and most cost-effective route to market for businesses in the digital wallet, prepaid card, or payments-as-a-service space.

Acumen Global Compliance supports EMI licence acquisitions end-to-end — from identifying available licences and conducting thorough compliance due diligence on the target entity’s regulatory permissions, safeguarding arrangements, AML records, and FCA supervisory history, through to managing the FCA Change in Control process, advising on any required Variations of Permission, and establishing your post-acquisition operational compliance framework. Our team has extensive experience in EMI licence transactions and can guide you through every stage of the process with expert regulatory and commercial insight.

Key Facts

Who needs this

Firms wanting to issue e-money, digital wallets, or prepaid cards

Requirement

FCA Change in Control under Electronic Money Regulations 2011

Timeline

8–20 weeks depending on complexity

Price from

POA — premium acquisition

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    Buy EMI Licence

    How We Help You Acquire an EMI Licence

    Licence Sourcing

    Source suitable SEMI or AEMI licences from our network.

    Enhanced Due Diligence

    Comprehensive due diligence covering regulatory, financial, and operational aspects.

    Valuation

    Fair valuation considering permissions, e-money volumes, and conditions.

    FCA CIC Application

    Manage the FCA Change in Control process end-to-end.

    Capital & Safeguarding

    Ensure capital adequacy (£350k for AEMI) and safeguarding compliance.

    Full Integration

    Post-acquisition compliance, banking, and operational setup.

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    What's Included

    EMI licence sourcing

    Financial & operational due diligence

    FCA CIC management

    Safeguarding review and setup

    Banking relationship support

    Full regulatory due diligence

    Licence valuation

    Capital adequacy assessment

    E-money compliance framework

    180-day post-completion support

    FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SEMI has a €5 million outstanding e-money limit. AEMI has no limits. AEMI requires £350,000 minimum capital.
    Yes. EMI licences authorise the issuance of electronic money including prepaid cards, digital wallets, and stored value accounts.
    EMIs must safeguard all outstanding e-money either in a designated account or through an insurance/guarantee arrangement.
    Typically 8–20 weeks. AEMI acquisitions take longer due to more complex due diligence and FCA scrutiny.
    SEMI: no minimum (but must be proportionate). AEMI: minimum £350,000 initial capital plus 2% of average outstanding e-money.
    Availability varies. We maintain a network of licence holders and can source suitable opportunities. Contact us for current availability.

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    Related Services

    Buy API Licence

    Acquire an Authorised Payment Institution.

    Licence Due Diligence

    Comprehensive buyer-side due diligence.

    Post-Acquisition Setup

    Post-acquisition compliance and AML.

    Ready to Get Started?

    Book a free consultation to discuss your compliance needs with our specialist team.

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