A Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO) Search identifies the natural persons who ultimately own or control a company, industrial and provident society, or certain financial vehicles in Ireland. These searches are an essential part of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, corporate due diligence, and regulatory assessments.
Ellis & Ellis conducts searches against the official Registers of Beneficial Ownership established under Irish law following the transposition of the Fourth and Fifth EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives (4AMLD and 5AMLD).
Ellis & Ellis Beneficial Ownership Searches are conducted against the following registers:
Copies of filed records and register extracts are available upon request, subject to statutory access restrictions.
Irish anti-money laundering legislation requires transparency around who ultimately owns or controls legal entities.
A Beneficial Ownership Search helps to:
Under EU AML legislation, a beneficial owner is generally defined as a natural person who:
Learn more about Beneficial Ownership Searches with our expert explainer.
Use this search if your client is:
Request a Register of Beneficial Ownership Search through the Ellis & Ellis client portal, or contact our team for guidance on access requirements and entity eligibility.
What is the Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO)?
It is a central register recording the natural persons who ultimately own or control companies and societies in Ireland.
Who must be recorded as a beneficial owner?
Any natural person who owns or controls more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or exercises control by other means.
Which entities are covered by RBO searches?
Companies, industrial and provident societies, and certain financial vehicles such as ICAVs and unit trusts.
Are RBO searches publicly accessible?
Access is restricted and limited information is available to designated persons under AML legislation.
What details will the search return?
Typically name, month and year of birth, nationality, country of residence, and nature and extent of control.
Are financial vehicle registers searched differently?
Yes. CFV registers are maintained by the Central Bank and have separate access and disclosure rules.
Are copies of filings available?
Yes, subject to statutory access permissions.
Why use Ellis & Ellis?
Over 130 years of legal search expertise, certified reporting, AML-aware processes, and Professional Indemnity Cover of €10 million.