If you are not an obliged entity, you may still apply for access to beneficial ownership information, on the basis of a legitimate interest connected with preventing or combating money laundering, terrorist financing or proliferation financing.
Who may apply
- a person engaged in journalism, reporting or another form of expression in the media, whose activities are connected with the prevention or combating of money laundering or related offences, terrorist financing or proliferation financing
- a civil society organization, including a non-governmental organization or an academic institution, or an academic or researcher, whose activities are so connected
- a person who is likely to enter into a transaction with the entity, and who wishes to prevent any link between that transaction and money laundering or related offences, terrorist financing or proliferation financing
- anyone else who can demonstrate a legitimate interest in the information, connected with the prevention of money laundering or related offences, terrorist financing or proliferation financing
What a legitimate interest means
The interest must be connected with preventing or combating money laundering or related offences, terrorist financing or proliferation financing. Curiosity, commercial advantage and general research unconnected with those purposes are not a legitimate interest, and the connection has to be demonstrated to our satisfaction rather than asserted.
If you are applying on the fourth basis above, you must also specify your link to the entity the application relates to.
What is disclosed, and what is withheld
Legitimate interest access gives you limited beneficial ownership information, which is four fields and no more:
- full name
- month and year of birth
- country of residence, and nationality or nationalities
- a statement of the nature and extent of the beneficial owner's interest in the entity
Journalists, civil society organisations, academics and researchers may also receive historical information, meaning information relating to an entity dissolved or ceased to exist within the preceding five years, and information relating to the entity's control or ownership structure.
You do not receive the register entry
Residential and service addresses, the full date of birth, and identification document details are not disclosed.
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How to apply
Coming soon
How we decide
We consider whether your identity and authority are sufficiently established, whether your credentials have been sufficiently verified where that applies, and whether the request meets the requirements. If we approve it, we may set a period for the approval and impose conditions, and we may revoke it if you cease to meet the requirements or a condition is breached or likely to be.
If your application is refused
We notify you and give reasons in writing, including where the refusal is because a beneficial owner has been granted an exemption from disclosure.
You may appeal to the Supreme Court within twenty-eight days of receiving the decision. The decision does not take effect until the appeal period has passed, and if an appeal is brought, until it is determined or withdrawn.
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Exemptions from the regime and from filing →
If we disclose to you
If you become aware, or have reason to believe, that what we disclosed is materially inconsistent with other information you hold, you must report the inconsistency to us as soon as practicable and not later than thirty days after the disclosure. What we disclose is protected information and is subject to restrictions on further disclosure.