Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) — Executive & Compliance Brief
The Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) is the natural person who ultimately owns, controls, or exercises effective influence over a legal entity , irrespective of how many intermediary entities or arrangements exist in the ownership chain. UBO identification is a non-negotiable regulatory requirement across banking, licensing, tax, and AML frameworks. Why UBO Identification Is Mission-Critical Regulatory Compliance: Mandatory under AML/CFT, FATF, and local regulator rules Bankability: A primary gatekeeper requirement for account opening and maintenance Risk Management: Enables transparency over control, source of wealth, and influence Audit & Enforcement Readiness: Reduces exposure to penalties, account freezes, or de-risking Standard UBO Thresholds (Market Practice) A natural person is typically classified as a UBO if they: Own ≥ 25% of shares or voting rights (directly or indirectly), or Exercise control through agreements, veto rights, or decision-ma...