BVI Legislative Changes: Eligible Introducers to Supply Beneficial Ownership Information and Establishment of Private Registry of Directors

On 15 October 2015, the British Virgin Islands Government announced two changes to the compliance regime for BVI companies.

Eligible Introducers to supply Beneficial Ownership information for all companies they have formed on behalf of their clients.
From 1 January 2016, rather than providing it on request, Eligible Introducers will need to provide to their registered agent information on the Beneficial Owner of any BVI companies formed on behalf of their clients. The information required will include: Beneficial Owner’s name, date of birth, residential address and nationality. BVI registered agents will have a transition period of 12 months from the implementation date to become compliant with these obligations. The new information requirements for Eligible Introducers are scheduled to be intro­duced via amendments to the BVI’s existing Anti-Money Laundering legislation before the end of 2015.

Establishment of a private register of directors for all BVI companies.
The BVI Busi­ness Companies Act will be amended to require the filing of registers of directors for all companies at a private registry.