On February 3, 2017, the Russian Federal Service for Financial Monitoring (hereinafter “Rosfinmonitoring”) issued an information letter regarding the procedure for companies disclosing information on their beneficiary owners.

The letter was issued in furtherance of the amendments to Federal Law No.115-FZ “On combatting money laundering and terrorism financing” dated August 7, 2001, which establish for legal entities the obligation to possess information on their beneficiary owners and to take measures necessary to identify them. Furthermore, legal entities were imposed the obligation to respond to queries from Rosfinmonitoring and the tax authorities, and provide information on the beneficiary owners or confirm that they have taken measures to identify them.

In its information letter, Rosfinmonitoring indicated that if a legal entity is unable to establish its beneficiary owner, queries sent to the company shareholders (or other controlling entities) and responses to such queries may serve as proof that proper measures on identifying the beneficiary owner have been taken.

Considering the position of Rosfinmonitoring, if it is impossible to establish the beneficiary owners of a legal entity, in order to minimize the risk of liability for not fulfilling the obligation to establish and provide information on beneficiary owners, we recommend ensuring that a written request is delivered to the legal entity’s shareholders (or other controlling entities), with a full list of information needed to identify the beneficiary owner, and that a response from the shareholders (or other controlling entities), is received and kept at the company.

Pavel Karpunin   Partner   St. Petersburg   Теl.: +7 (812) 346 79 90

Nikita Popov   Associate   Moscow   Теl.: +7 (495) 970 10 90

Additional notes

Should any questions arise in connection with the above or if you need any additional materials, please contact Paver Karpunin or Nikita Popov, Office of Capital Legal Services.

This Information letter keeps the clients of Capital Legal Services and other interested parties abreast of information that may, to any extent, affect their activity or cater to their particular interests. The opinions and commentaries expressed in this information letter shall not be deemed as legal opinions and do not cancel the need to obtain legal advice or legal opinion on separate issues. 

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