Significant Beneficial Owner “SBO”: Brief Synopsis

Significant Beneficial Owner “SBO”: Brief Synopsis

29 June 2018 • Akshay Kapoor

To curb the menace of black money and round tripping of funds, the Ministry has introduced many measures to send a strong message to the existing companies. One of the initial steps by the MCA was to strike off Companies which have not been filing their financial statements for a period of 2 or more years. In this measure more than 200,000 companies were struck off and a proposed 31250 (approx) companies are also liable to be struck off.

A recent measure taken by the MCA in this regard is to get information about the ultimate individual beneficial shareholder of a company. The Ministry in this regard had redrafted the provisions of Section 90 of the Companies Act 2013 and notified it on 13^th June, 2018. Through this notification a step has been taken by the Ministry to reveal legitimate individual owner hiding behind anonymity and layers of shell Companies.

Legal Provisions

The amended provision governing “Significant Beneficial Owner” (section 90) herein after referred to as “SBO” under the Companies Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as “ACT”) has been made effective from 13.06.2018 and major highlights of these provisions have been enumerated below.

Who is Significant Beneficial Owner (SBO) ?

Any person (singly or along with other person including trust and person’s resident outside India) shall become SBO with respect to shares in a company if:

Individuals (natural person) fulfilling the conditions specified above are termed as “SBO” of the Company. In cases where member of the company is not a natural person, the significant beneficial holder shall be:

1. In case such member is a Company, natural person who either at his own or along with other natural person holds not less than 10% of the share capital of the company.
2. In case such member is a partnership firm, natural person who at his own or along with other natural person holds not less than 10% of capital or has entitlement of profits of the partnership.

If there is no natural person meeting above conditions, the SBO is the relevant natural person who holds the position of senior managing official.

Compliance required on part of “SBO”

The Compliances required on part SBO have been enumerated below:

1. SBO is required to give declaration to the Company in form BEN-1.
2. SBO is required to give declaration within 90 days from the Commencement date (13.06.2018). Therefore, last date for declaration of such significant shareholding is 10.09.2018.
3. In case an individual becomes SBO after the Commencement of these rules or any changes occur in such ownership then declaration will be required within 30 days from the acquisition or such change.
4. Any failure to comply with the disclosure requirement in the form of declaration will attract minimum fine of INR 100,000/- which may extent to INR 1million. In addition to this, per day penalty of INR 1000 will also be applicable for each day of continuing default.

Compliance required on part of “Company”:

The Compliances required on part of Company have been enumerated below:

1. The Company is required to file such declaration as received from a SBO within 30 days from the receipt, in form No.BEN-2 to the Registrar of Companies along with the fees as prescribed in Companies (Registration offices and fees) Rules, 2014.
2. The Company is also required to maintain register for such declarations received from SBO in the format prescribed in form BEN-3.
3. The company is made liable to send notice (BEN-4) for obtaining declaration from the SBO in case where suo motto declaration has not been received.
4. In case even after sending of notice, declaration from the SBO has not been received, then the company is mandatorily required to move an application to the Tribunal (NCLT).
5. Any failure shall attract penalty of INR1million which may extent to INR 5million on the Company and every officer who is default. In addition to this, per day penalty of INR 1000 will also be applicable for each day of continuing default.

Conclusion:    

From the above, it can be concluded that these stringent additions in the provisions of the Law are to find out about the actual owners having significant influence in Companies or having Control under the entities registered under the law by lifting of veil on such shareholding”.