Financial Crime World

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France’s Corporate Registry and Beneficial Ownership Information: What You Need to Know

In an effort to boost transparency and combat money laundering, France has made significant strides in providing access to corporate registry information and beneficial ownership data. Here’s what you need to know:

Corporate Registry

The French Trade and Companies Register (Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés - RCS) is the primary source of corporate registry information in France. The register contains a wealth of details about companies, including their names, entity numbers, types, dates of incorporation, and principal addresses.

  • Key information available on the registry includes:
    • Name of legal entity
    • Entity number (if applicable)
    • Type of legal entity
    • Date of incorporation
    • Current status
    • Principal address of business
    • Principal purpose of business
    • Registered capital
    • Registered agent information
    • Officer/director information, including power of representation
    • Shareholder/membership information (for partnerships and companies)
    • Memorandum and articles of incorporation
    • Application/certificate of formation
    • Governance documents
    • Annual/biennial reports (for listed companies)
    • Shareholder register
    • Register of charges

Beneficial Ownership Registry

The French Beneficial Ownership Registry is designed to provide transparency on the beneficial owners of companies. The registry contains information on individuals, including their names, dates of birth, places of birth, official identifiers, and contact details.

  • Key information available on the registry includes:
    • Data on individuals: name, date of birth, place of birth, official identifier, nationality, and contact details
    • Data on entities: name, official identifiers, jurisdiction of incorporation, and contact details
    • Data on relationships: type of relationship, nature of ownership or control, start and end dates

Access for Reporting Entities with AML Obligations

Financial institutions and other reporting entities with anti-money laundering (AML) obligations can access the Beneficial Ownership Registry through a secure electronic platform called “Guichet Unique” managed by the French Treasury. To access the information, these entities must submit a request and provide certain information to verify their identity and AML compliance status.

France offers several types of legal entities and arrangements, including the Société Anonyme (SA), which is one of the most commonly used forms of business organization. The SA requires a minimum of seven natural persons for formation and must register with the company registry.

With its robust corporate registry and beneficial ownership information, France has taken significant steps to improve transparency and combat financial crimes. As the global fight against money laundering continues to evolve, understanding these systems is crucial for businesses operating in France or dealing with French entities.