CEPA Strategy Guidance note on Beneficial Ownership Registries

The guidance note offers practical advice for countries aiming to enhance transparency and curb financial crime through effective beneficial ownership registries.

Key takeaways from the report include:

• Beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) supports national security and anti-corruption efforts by identifying ultimate beneficial owners of companies, helping to prevent financial crime;
• Beneficial ownership registries aid governments in tracking illicit financial flows, estimated at $311 billion annually in tax avoidance globally;
• CEPA underscores the role of BOT in safeguarding sustainable development goals, particularly by reducing corruption risks in government procurement; and
• The EU, G7, G20, and other international organisations endorse BOT as central to financial transparency and integrity.

✅ Countries are encouraged to strengthen collaboration and adopt comprehensive beneficial ownership review frameworks to meet these goals.