Beneficial Ownership Analysis and Tracing of Concealed Assets

Course overview

Behind many forfeiture targets sits a layer of companies, trusts and nominee shareholders designed to keep the real owner's name off every register. Beneficial ownership registers in Kenya and across the region help, but they are incomplete and easily filled with false declarations. This beneficial ownership analysis course teaches investigators to look past the paperwork and establish who really owns and controls an asset.

Participants learn the legal concepts of ownership, control and benefit, how companies, trusts, foundations and partnerships can be used to hide them, and which records reveal the truth. They practise building ownership charts from registry extracts, identifying nominee arrangements and front persons, and finding indicators of control such as signing authority, payment of expenses, use of property and instructions to professionals. Foreign structures and offshore registries are covered, along with how to request information from other jurisdictions. A layered case involving local and foreign companies runs through the week.

Participants leave able to map complex structures, document beneficial ownership findings and present them in a way that supports restraint and forfeiture.

What you will be able to do

• Explain the legal concepts of ownership, control and beneficial interest
• Identify how companies, trusts and nominees are used to conceal assets
• Build ownership and control charts from registry and corporate records
• Detect nominee shareholders, front persons and proxy directors
• Gather evidence of control beyond legal title
• Obtain beneficial ownership information from foreign jurisdictions
• Present beneficial ownership findings to support recovery action

Who should attend

For investigators, analysts and compliance professionals who must identify the real owners behind companies and other legal arrangements.

• Financial investigators
• Asset recovery officers
• FIU analysts
• Anti-corruption investigators
• Company registry officers
• Bank compliance and KYC officers
• Revenue authority investigators

Course outline

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.