Understanding who runs and owns a company is fundamental to any due diligence process. Whether you're vetting a potential business partner, assessing credit risk, or conducting KYC checks, director and shareholder research is essential.
What Information is Publicly Available?
Director Information
UK company law requires companies to disclose director information, including:
- Full name - Including any former names
- Date of birth - Month and year (day is not disclosed)
- Nationality
- Country of residence
- Occupation
- Appointment date
- Resignation date - If applicable
- Service address - Where official correspondence is sent
Shareholder Information
Shareholding information is available through:
- Confirmation statements - Annual statements of shareholdings
- Annual returns - Historic shareholding records
- PSC register - Persons with Significant Control
Persons with Significant Control (PSC)
The PSC register identifies individuals who:
- Hold more than 25% of shares
- Hold more than 25% of voting rights
- Have the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors
- Have the right to exercise significant influence or control
PSC information includes:
- Name and date of birth
- Nationality and country of residence
- Nature of control (which conditions apply)
- Date of registration
Researching Director History
A director's full history reveals important patterns:
Current Directorships
- How many other companies do they direct?
- Are there potential conflicts of interest?
- What's the health of those other companies?
Previous Directorships
- Track record across previous roles
- Companies that failed or were dissolved
- Patterns of short-term appointments
- Industries and sectors of experience
Red Flags
- Multiple company failures
- Disqualifications (check the disqualified directors register)
- Pattern of "phoenix" companies
- Unusual resignation patterns
CorporaOne maps director networks automatically, showing you connections across companies and highlighting potential red flags.
Understanding Ownership Structures
Company ownership can be complex:
Direct Ownership
Individuals holding shares directly in their own name.
Corporate Ownership
Shares held by other companies, requiring you to trace ownership up the chain.
Trust Ownership
Shares held by trustees on behalf of beneficiaries.
Nominee Shareholdings
Shares held by nominees on behalf of beneficial owners.
Tracing Ultimate Beneficial Owners
To identify who really controls a company:
- Start with the PSC register
- If a corporate entity is listed, research that entity
- Continue up the ownership chain
- Look for individuals at 25%+ ownership thresholds
- Consider indirect control through voting agreements
Verification Best Practices
Cross-Reference Information
- Compare director names across multiple sources
- Verify dates of birth match
- Check consistency of addresses
Check Filing History
- When was the last confirmation statement filed?
- Are all required documents up to date?
- Look for any correction filings
Monitor for Changes
- Set up alerts for director changes
- Track PSC register updates
- Watch for share transfers
Common Research Scenarios
Due Diligence on a Supplier
- Verify company details match what they've told you
- Check directors have relevant experience
- Look for any concerning patterns in director history
- Understand ownership and potential conflicts
KYC for New Customer
- Confirm company is registered and active
- Verify director identities
- Identify all beneficial owners
- Screen against sanctions and PEP lists
Pre-Investment Research
- Full director background checks
- Complete ownership mapping
- Analysis of related party transactions
- Assessment of governance quality
Using CorporaOne for Director Research
CorporaOne makes director and shareholder research easy:
- Instant director profiles - Full history across all companies
- Network visualisation - See connections at a glance
- AI-powered analysis - Automatic red flag identification
- Change monitoring - Alerts for director appointments and resignations
- API access - Integrate into your workflows
Ready to streamline your director research? Start your free CorporaOne account.