SECP Cracks Down on 28,761 Companies for Failing to Report Ultimate Beneficial Owners

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) of Pakistan has issued show cause notices to 28,761 companies for not submitting mandatory details of their ultimate beneficial owners, as part of efforts to enhance corporate transparency. The regulatory authority reported that these companies had neglected to file Form 19, which is required under the Companies Act, 2017 to provide information about ultimate beneficial owners.

According to regulatory definitions, a person owning 25 percent or more of a company's shares or voting rights, as well as any individual exercising direct or indirect effective control over a company, is considered an ultimate beneficial owner. The SECP emphasized that disclosing this information is mandatory under the Companies Act, 2017, with the objective of increasing transparency and identifying the true owners or controllers of companies.

Companies that received these notices have been granted 30 days to file Form 19 and adhere to the regulatory requirement. The SECP cautioned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe could result in legal proceedings under applicable laws.