Jul 15, 2025

A Guide to Identifying Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs)

A Guide to Identifying Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs)

The concept of Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) exists to prevent criminals from using complex structures or legal persons to conceal true ownership. In the same way you must identify and verify your clients, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) requires that you verify the identity of all UBOs as well. 

How can Accountable Institutions determine UBOs?

Determining a UBO is relatively straightforward for a publicly listed company or entities with clear direct shareholders, but it can become more complex for privately owned companies where ownership is concealed by layers of indirect ownership.

The nCino KYC compliance team has created a guide to assist you in identifying UBOs and uncovering ownership structures. The guide will help you better understand:

  • Beneficial Ownership 
  • The Dilution Method
  • The Beneficial Ownership Register
  • Political / Prominent Exposure & Adverse Media Screening for UBOs
  • Consequences of Non-Compliance 

Request your copy below! 

 

A Guide to Identifying Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs)

 

Hawken McEwan

About the author:

Hawken McEwan

Hawken has over 25 years' experience in financial crime compliance, regulatory operations, banking operations, risk and change. Specialising in FICA and Anti-Money Laundering, Hawken is an FSCA approved Compliance Officer, FAIS Key Individual and an advisor to BankSETA around AML due diligence and transaction monitoring. He holds a Masters from the University of Edinburgh, a PGCE from the University of Sunderland and is a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.