The Section 90 of Companies Act, 2013 contains provision of maintaining a register of Significant Beneficial owners. Every Company is required to maintain a register of Significant Beneficial owners and such information is required to be changed as and when applicable. In line with Provision of Companies Act, MCA has notified Limited Liability Partnership (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules, 2023 vide Notification No. G.S.R.832(E) dated 9th November, 2023.

Now Limited Liability Partnership firms are required to identify the significant Beneficial owners and required to file applicable forms MCA furnishing information about SBOs. This article contains discussion about provisions of Limited Liability Partnership (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules, 2023. 

1. Meaning of Significant Beneficial Owner (SBO)

As per Rule 2(k) of LLP (SBO) Rules, “significant beneficial owner” in relation to a limited liability partnership, means a Individual who possessee one or more of the following rights, whether acting alone or together or through one or more persons or trust:

1. holds not less than 10% of the contribution, indirectly or together with any direct holdings, 
2. Holds not less than 10% of voting rights in respect of Management or policy decisions;
3. Has right to receive or participate in not less than 10% of the total distributable profit or any other distribution;
4. Has the right to exercise significant influence or control in any manner other than through Direct holding alone.

However, if an individual does not hold any right or entitlement indirectly then he shall not be considered as a significant beneficial owner.

“significant influence” means the power to participate, directly or indirectly, in the financial and operating policy decisions of the reporting LLP but is not control or joint control of those policies.

2. How to determine whether the Individual is holding the entitlement directly in the reporting LLP

An individual shall be considered to hold a right or entitlement directly in the Reporting Llp if any of the following condition is satisfied:

1. the contribution in the reporting LLP are held in the name of the individual;
2. The Individual has held or acquired a beneficial interest in the contribution of the reporting LLP under Rule 22B(2) of LLP Rules, 2009 and has made a declaration in this regard to the reporting LLP

Reporting LLP means LLP required to comply with the requirements of section 90 of the Companies Act, 2013.

3. How to determine indirect holding in the reporting entity

A individual shall be considered as holding entitlement indirectly in the reporting entity if he satisfies any of the following criteria:

Majority stake means:

1. Holding more than one-half of the equity share capital in the body corporate; or 
2. Holding more than one-half of the contribution in a partnership entity; or 
3. Holding more than one-half of the voting rights in the body corporate; or 
4. Has the right to receive or participate in more than one half of the distributable dividend or distributable profits or any other distribution by the body corporate including a partnership entity as the case may be. 

4. What is the meaning of Individual acting together

As per Explanation V of Definition of “Significant Beneficial Owner”, if any individual acts through any person or trust, act with a common intent of exercising any rights or entitlements, or exercising control or significant influence, over a reporting limited liability partnership, pursuant to an agreement or understanding, such individual, or individuals, acting through any person or trust, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be “acting together”.

5. What is the obligation of Reporting LLP

As per Rule 4 of LLP (SBO) rules, Every reporting limited liability partnership is required to take following actions:

1. take necessary steps to find out a significant beneficial owner and upon identification, cause such individuals to make a declaration in Form No. LLP BEN-1
2. In cases where its partner (other than an individual), holds not minimum 10% of its-
   1. contribution; or
   2. voting rights; or
   3. right to receive or participate in the distributable profits or any other distribution payable in a financial year,-

give notice to such partner in Form No. LLP BEN-4, seeking information in accordance with Section 90(5) of Companies Act, 2013 as applied to the limited liability partnership as per the notification.

6. Declaration by SBO

1. SBO At the time of Implementation of Rules: Every individual who is a significant beneficial owner in a reporting limited liability partnership at the time of commencement of this Rules, he shall file a declaration in Form No. LLP BEN-1 to the reporting LLP within 90 days from date of applicability of these rules.

2. Subsequently becoming SBO: Every individual, who subsequently becomes a SBO or where his significant beneficial ownership undergoes any change shall file a declaration in Form No. LLP BEN-1 to the reporting LLP within 30 days of becoming SBO or change.

Where an individual becomes a SBO or where his SBO undergoes any change within 90 days of the commencement of these rules, it shall be deemed that such individual became the significant beneficial owner or any change therein happened on the date of expiry of 90 dats from such commencement, and the period of 30 days for filing Form LLP BEN-1 shall be computed accordingly.

7. Return of SBO

Upon receipt of declaration, the reporting LLP shall file a return in Form No. LLP BEN-2 with the Registrar within 30 days from the date of receipt of such declaration along with applicable fees.

8. Register of SBO

The limited liability partnership shall maintain a register of SBO in Form No. LLP BEN-3.The register shall be open for inspection during business hours for a reasonable time of not less than 2 hours.

9. Non-applicable of SBO Rules

1. Provision of SBO rules shall not apply to the extent the contribution of the reporting LLP is held by:
   1. The Central Government, State Government or any local authority;
   2. a reporting limited liability partnership, or
   3. a body corporate, or

2. An entity controlled by the Central Government or State Government or partly by both;
3. An investment vehicle registered with SEBI such as mutual funds, alternative investment funds (AIF), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Infrastructure Investment Trust (lnVITs).
4. an investment vehicle regulated by the RBI or the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, or the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.

10. Application to Tribunal

The reporting LLP shall apply to the Tribunal in following cases:

1. where any person fails to give the information required by the notice in Form No. LLP BEN-4 within the time specified therein; or
2. where the information given is not satisfactory, under sub-section (7) of section 90 of Companies Act, 2013

On application of LLP, the Tribunal may any order which Tribunal deems fit, including-

1. restrictions on the transfer of interest attached to the contribution in question;
2. suspension of the right to receive profits or any other distribution in relation to the contribution in question;
3. suspension of voting rights;