Major overhaul of the Act establishing a Register of Beneficial Owners of Domestic Legal Entities

On 1 April 2021, the new Act establishing a Register of Economic Beneficiaries of Legal Entities (Gesetz über das Verzeichnis der wirtschaftlich berechtigten Personen von Rechtsträgern, VwbPG) enters into force. It replaces the Act establishing a Register of Beneficial Owners of Domestic Legal Entities (VwEG) of 6 December 2018, which has been in force since 1 August 2019. As a result, the corresponding terms of the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive will be implemented.

The 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive does not make a distinction between the terms 'economic beneficiary' and 'beneficial owner'. For this reason, the differing definitions applying in Liechtenstein of 'economic beneficiary' according to legislation on due diligence and 'beneficial owner' under the Act establishing a Register of Beneficial Owners of Domestic Legal Entities are being removed. Based on this standardization of terms, the terminology in the title of the Act is being modified.

The practical effects are as follows:

Duties of legal entities

• Both with corporations, including establishments or trust enterprises with corporate structures, as well as companies without personality and foundations, trusts and establishments or trust enterprises with structures similar to foundations, the legal entities must establish the identity of the economic beneficiaries and notify the same electronically to the Office of Justice (Amt für Justiz, AJU).
• If an existing entry in a corresponding register of another EEA Member State can be evidenced, then for trusts and similar legal agreements, there exists no obligation to enter the economic beneficiaries thereof in the register. This exception shall only apply if the trust or similar legal agreement is managed by a person in accordance with the terms of Article 3 (1) k) of the Due Diligence Act (Sorgfaltspflichtgesetz, SPG).
• The economic beneficiaries must be established in line with the definition contained in the due diligence legislation and entered in the electronic register.
• Consequently, in the case of corporations, including establishments or trust enterprises with corporate structures, as well as companies without personality, such natural persons must be identified and entered in the register who have a share/voting rights/a profit share of 25% or more in the said legal entities or who in any other manner exercise control over such legal entities.
• Consequently, in the case of foundations, trusts and establishments or trust enterprises with structures manner similar to foundations, all economic beneficiaries must be identified and entered in the register, irrespective of whether or not they exercise control.
• Consequently, legal entities may also be recorded and entered in the electronic register as members of foundation boards or boards of directors or of a trustee.

Reporting obligation in the event of inconsistencies

Those subject to due diligence obligations shall be under a duty to report any inconsistencies to the Office of Justice within 30 days from becoming aware of the same, which inconsistencies they shall identify as existing between the data entered in the register concerning the economic beneficiaries of legal entities and the information available to them with regard to the same. This shall also apply with regard to authorities.

Cross-linking of register

The register shall be cross-linked via the central European platform with the central registers of other EEA Member States.

Disclosure of data

• The Financial Intelligence Unit, the Financial Market Authority, the national police, the tax administration, the public prosecutor's office, the Court of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein Chamber of Lawyers may in an individual instance retrieve and inspect on an unrestricted basis the data entered in the register concerning the economic beneficiaries of legal entities.
• Upon application, the Office of Justice shall disclose to foreign banks and financial institutions as well as those subject to due diligence obligations in Liechtenstein the data relating to legal entities entered in the register for the purpose of fulfilling due diligence requirements.
• Nationals and organizations of Liechtenstein and foreign nationals and organizations may for a fee apply to the Office of Justice for disclosure of the data entered in the register relating to single corporations, including establishments or trust enterprises with corporate structures.

Restriction on the disclosure of data in the case of legitimate interests

The Office of Justice may entirely or partially restrict the disclosure of data to parties subject to due diligence obligations in Liechtenstein and third parties upon application from a legal entity if the said legal entity shall provide documentary evidence to the effect that, taking account of all circumstances of the individual case, disclosure runs counter to overriding legitimate interests on the part of the economic beneficiaries, for instance, if they:

• would be exposed to a disproportionate risk of fraud, abduction, racketeering and extortion, harassment, violence, or intimidation as a result of disclosure of data; or
• are minors or otherwise do not have capacity to enter into legal transactions.

Transitional provisions

• Legal entities existing at the time of entry into force of the Act establishing a Register of Economic Beneficiaries of Legal Entities, i.e. 1 April 2021, must notify the data relating to their economic beneficiaries to the Office of Justice within six months with effect from entry into force of the said Act, i.e. by 30 September 2021.
• Those subject to due diligence obligations shall be required to notify inconsistencies to the Office of Justice also by 30 September 2021.

Conclusion

Transfer of existing data to new database

The Office of Justice shall transfer the data entered in the 'Register of Beneficial Owners' by the time of entry into force of the Act establishing a Register of Economic Beneficiaries of Legal Entities on 1 April 2021 into the new 'Register of Economic Beneficiaries'. The differing definitions of the data to be entered under the existing and new legislation may lead to discrepancies. Consequently, the executive bodies of the respective legal entities must verify the accuracy of entries and, as required, implement modifications in line with the new statutory rules.

Responsibility

The legal entities/their executive bodies shall be responsible for correct and complete entry of data in the register.

Electronic data recording

It is anticipated that data recording shall be available with effect from 5 April 2021; this may be undertaken via the online portal https://vwb.llv.li using forms C-VwbP and T-VwbP.

Applications and reports to the register

Applications and reports to the Office of Justice, such as in order to disclose data, restrict disclosure or to report inconsistencies, must be submitted on paper using the corresponding official forms.

The Office of Justice is currently looking into options for electronic submission of applications and reports.

Assistance for affected legal entities

The Office of Justice shall inform the affected legal entities of the principal changes by way of e-mail sent to the contact entered in the register.

In addition, on the Office of Justice website, under the heading 'Register of Economic Beneficiaries' ('Verzeichnis wirtschaftlich Berechtigter'), further informative documents will be provided (e.g. guidance on the register of economic beneficiaries, information on technical requirements for registration ['step-by-step instructions'], FAQs).

Quellen
Infoblatt Verzeichnis wirtschaftlich Berechtigter
https://bit.ly/2P5CqVF
https://bit.ly/3qW3iVA