How to Easily Check Shareholder Info of a Singapore Company? A Detailed Guide!

Accessing Shareholder Information of Singapore Companies A Practical Guide

In today’s rapidly globalizing business environment, more and more investors and entrepreneurs are turning their attention to Singapore-an open economy with a robust legal framework. As one of Asia’s most attractive investment destinations, Singapore offers low taxation, efficient services, and a transparent system for company registration and regulation. For those considering investment or collaboration, understanding the shareholder structure of a company is essential. This article provides a detailed guide on how to easily access shareholder information of Singapore-registered companies, supplemented by recent news and practical advice.

1. Why Check Shareholder Information?

Understanding a company’s background is critical in commercial cooperation. Shareholder details can help identify the true controllers of a business, reveal funding sources, ownership structure, and potential risks. For instance, in mergers and acquisitions, financing negotiations, or supply chain partnerships, such knowledge supports more informed decision-making.

With increasing global efforts to combat money laundering AML and terrorist financing CFT, many financial institutions and businesses now require partners to provide comprehensive shareholder data to ensure compliance.

2. Official Channel ACRA Business Search System

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ACRA is Singapore’s main regulatory body overseeing local enterprises. ACRA offers an online tool called Business Profile, which allows the public to search for basic company information using a company name or registration number.

While the standard Business Profile does not include a full list of shareholders, you can opt to purchase a document package named Company Lodged Documents. This often includes the Annual Return Annual Return submitted to ACRA, which typically lists the top five shareholders and their shareholding percentages.

Steps to Access

1. Visit the ACRA official website at https//www.acra.gov.sghttps//www.acra.gov.sg;

2. Click on Business Search to enter the business inquiry page;

3. Search by company name or UEN Unique Entity Number;

4. Purchase the Lodged Documents to view detailed records.

Please note that private limited companies may choose not to disclose all shareholder information due to privacy protections, especially if they meet certain exemption criteria.

3. Utilizing Professional Service Platforms

If you seek more comprehensive and in-depth insights-or if you’re not based in Singapore-using professional corporate information service providers may be a better option.

Several platforms offer assistance in retrieving enterprise data, including

DB Singapore Dun Bradstreet

Crunchbase

ZoomInfo

LocalBiz

These platforms typically aggregate data from both official and unofficial sources, offering user-friendly interfaces. Premium versions may even provide summaries of company finances, executive profiles, and historical change logs.

4. Recent Developments Increasing Transparency in Shareholder Disclosure

In June 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore MAS introduced new regulations requiring all Singapore-registered companies to disclose their beneficial owner information to ACRA. This marks a significant step forward in enhancing transparency and strengthening measures against money laundering and tax evasion.

This means that accessing shareholder data will become more standardized and convenient in the future. At the same time, it imposes higher compliance obligations on business owners.

Early in 2025, several local startups were investigated for failing to fully disclose key shareholder backgrounds during initial public offering IPO processes. These cases serve as a reminder that maintaining transparency in business operations is not only a legal requirement but also a foundation for building trust.

5. Key Considerations and Privacy Protection

Although shareholder information is increasingly accessible and convenient to obtain, users should still keep the following points in mind

1. Legitimate Use Ensure that any use of shareholder data is for lawful purposes, such as business collaboration or investment assessment. Avoid misuse.

2. Data Timeliness Company information may change over time. It’s advisable to verify the latest data regularly.

3. Respect for Privacy Even when information is publicly available, personal privacy must be respected. Avoid unnecessary disclosure or distribution of sensitive details.

6. Conclusion

As Singapore continues to improve its business environment, accessing shareholder information has become increasingly straightforward. Whether through ACRA’s official platform or third-party tools, valuable insights into a company’s ownership structure are within reach.

At the same time, evolving regulatory landscapes remind us that transparency must go hand-in-hand with compliance and responsibility. For businesses and individuals aiming to expand into the Singapore market, mastering these information-gathering methods will undoubtedly enhance competitiveness and support informed decision-making.