close links  article 1 ( 26 ) of directive 2000/12 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 20 march 2000 relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions states that « close links shall mean a situation in which two or more natural or legal persons are linked by  ( a ) participation  which shall mean the ownership  direct or by way of control  of 20  or more of the voting rights or capital of an undertaking  or ( b ) control  which shall mean the relationship between a parent undertaking and a subsidiary  in all the cases referred to in article 1 ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) of directive 83/349 / eec  or a similar relationship between any natural or legal person and an undertaking 