Ristiinomistus

Ristiinomistus is a corporate ownership arrangement in which two or more companies hold shares in each other, creating a network of reciprocal ownership rather than a simple parent–subsidiary relationship. The structure can involve core companies within an industrial group that own minority or sometimes majority stakes in one another, aiming to secure collaboration and stabilize ownership while preserving strategic flexibility.

The practice can help align incentives, facilitate long-term planning, and deter hostile takeovers. However, it also introduces governance complexity, potential conflicts of interest, and risks of entrenchment. Cross-holdings can obscure who controls a company, complicate dividend decisions, and make exit or valuation more difficult for investors.

Regulatory considerations are central to cross-ownership. Antitrust and corporate-law authorities assess whether reciprocal holdings impede competition, create hidden control, or enable coordinated behavior among connected firms. In many jurisdictions, there are limits on the size of cross-holdings, requirements for disclosure, or scrutiny of governance arrangements to protect minority shareholders and market transparency.

Uses and contexts vary. The term is encountered in Nordic corporate practice and in East Asian keiretsu-like groupings, where banks, suppliers, and client firms hold stakes in one another to reinforce cooperation. In Finnish discourse, ristiinomistus is discussed as a feature of ownership structures and corporate governance.

Origin and terminology: Ristiinomistus combines Finnish ristia (cross) and omistus (ownership).