The UK PSC Register Requirements

This note is designed to assist our clients to understand the key issues the PSC register requirements present for them. This is a complex area and each case will depend on the specific facts.

What is a PSC register?

• Most UK incorporated companies and LLPs are required to keep a register of 'people with significant control' (PSCs) over them.
• Those companies are also required to provide and update this information publicly by filing it at Companies House within 14 days of any changes or additions to its PSC register. At least once a year, as part of the company's confirmation statement, the company is required to confirm that the PSC information contained on the public register is accurate and up to date.

Who needs to keep a PSC register?

• All UK incorporated companies and LLPs need to keep a PSC register except where they are exempt.
• Exempt companies (which are subject to equivalent disclosure requirements through a different means) are those with voting shares admitted to trading on a regulated market in the UK or EEA (other than the UK) or on specified markets in Switzerland, the USA, Japan and Israel (see table on page 5 of the attached document).
• From 24 July 2017 companies with shares listed on UK secondary markets (such as the Alternative Investment Market and NEX Exchange), which were previously exempt, are also required to maintain a PSC register and comply with the PSC register requirements.
• Overseas entities do not have to keep PSC registers, but may have similar transparency provisions in their relevant jurisdiction.  In particular, the EU has introduced similar measures in the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive which Member States were required to have implemented by 26 June 2017. 
• UK subsidiaries of exempt entities are required to keep a PSC register where they are not themselves exempt.

What needs to go on the PSC register?

• Companies need to identify if there are any PSCs (who are, by definition, individuals) in relation to them or alternatively, relevant legal entities (RLEs).
• Where the UK company is part of a group of companies, only the first RLE in a particular chain of control, which directly or indirectly meets one of Conditions 1-5, should be recorded on the PSC register. 
• If after appropriate consideration and investigation a UK company decides that it has no registrable PSCs or RLEs then it is valid to record this in the PSC register - but the company should still keep a register and update this if circumstances change.  The PSC register should never be empty.
• If a company is still determining whether there are any registrable PSCs or RLEs to go on its register, it will need to record this on the register using set wording required by the legislation.

Identifying PSCs

An individual will be a PSC of a company if he or she satisfies one or more of the following conditions in relation to the company:

• Condition 1 – holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% (in nominal value) of the share capital of the company.
• Condition 2 – holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting rights in the company.
• Condition 3 – holds the right, directly or indirectly, to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of the company.
• Condition 4 – has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the company.
• Condition 5 – has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the activities of a trust or firm that is not a legal entity which would itself satisfy any of Conditions 1 to 4 in relation to the company if it were an individual.

Trusts

• A trustee of a trust will usually be a PSC where that trust has the required shareholding/level of control in a company directly or indirectly. 
• A beneficiary may be a PSC in addition to the trustee if that beneficiary, as a matter of fact, exercises significant influence or control over the trust (Condition 5).
• Where a trustee is merely a nominee, it is only the beneficiary who is a registrable PSC. 

Identifying RLEs

RLEs are corporates (whether UK or international) which:

• would be PSCs if they were individuals (i.e. fulfil one or more of Conditions 1 to 5); and
• are subject to their own disclosure requirements either through having to keep a PSC register themselves or by having listed shares on the UK, EEA or certain listed markets - see table on page 5 of the attached document.
• Accordingly, all UK companies with a more than 25% interest in a company will be an RLE in relation to that company, whereas overseas companies will only be RLEs where they have listed shares on the UK, EEA or listed markets.
• LLPs can be RLEs but limited partnerships cannot - companies which are general partners of limited partnerships can be.

Completing the register

To identify a registrable PSC or RLE, starting with the UK company whose PSC register you are investigating, identify any person or company with a greater than 25% interest in the UK company:

• If this is a UK company, record this as your RLE and more distant ownership of that RLE will not be registrable. Note there could be more than one RLE and each could satisfy more than one Condition.
• If it is an overseas company, is it listed on a UK or EU regulated market or one of the markets listed on page 5 of the attached document? If yes, it can be registered as an RLE and more distant ownership of that RLE will not be registrable. If not, it is not an RLE and you need to continue up the chain asking whether any other entity has a "majority stake" in that overseas company - this can also include an entity or individual who effectively controls the company even if they do not personally hold a majority of the shares.
• Continue until you reach an individual or RLE with a "majority stake", if any.
• A company may have more than one RLE or PSC and each shareholder satisfying one or more of the Conditions must be noted. If an entity satisfies any of Conditions 1-3, it is not necessary to record that that entity also satisfies Condition 4 or 5.

Limited partnerships

• Limited partnerships which do not have a separate legal personality (such as a UK limited partnership) cannot be a RLE.
• A General Partner (GP) of a limited partnership will usually fulfil one of Conditions 1-5. Therefore, if the GP is an individual or a RLE, it will be registrable.
• A principal of a corporate GP which is not itself a RLE (for example, because it is an unlisted overseas entity) may be a PSC if he or she owns or controls a majority of the GP interests or has the right to exercise a dominant influence over the GP.
• Limited partners are not usually PSCs.

What does “significant influence or control” mean?

• One of the more nuanced areas that may cause clients concern is the definition of 'significant influence or control' in Conditions 4 and 5.
• The good news is that there are some 'excepted roles' which do not, on their own, amount to significant influence or control, for example, directors acting in a way which is consistent with the ordinary responsibilities of a director.
• The statutory guidance should be consulted for a full analysis.
• Examples given by the statutory guidance of what might constitute a right to exercise significant influence or control include where a person has:
  • absolute decision rights over decisions relating to the running of the business of the company (such as adopting or amending the company's business plan or making additional borrowing from lenders); or
  • absolute veto rights over the appointment of the majority of directors.

Sanctions

• Where the PSC regime is not complied with, both the company and its officers (directors and secretary, if any) may be committing an offence with the risk of fines and imprisonment. In England and Wales fines are unlimited and prison sentences can be up to 24 months.
• In certain situations, a company may not have enough information to identify its PSCs or RLEs and, where necessary, companies can send out requests for information. Persons failing to comply with such requests may be committing a criminal offence and are liable to have further steps taken against them if they continue not to comply such as not being able to exercise voting rights or transfer shares in in the company.
• Individual PSCs are also under a positive obligation to notify companies of their status.

Further information

The information contained in this guide is intended to be a general introductory summary of the subject matters covered only. It does not purport to be exhaustive, or to provide legal advice, and should not be used as a substitute for such advice.

© Stevens & Bolton LLP 2023.