Beneficial Ownership

Financial Secrecy Feeds Kleptocracy and Environmental Destruction. Now is the Time for the U.S. and the World to Act on Beneficial Ownership Reform

Operating in financial secrecy, bad actors are free to profit from environmental degradation, and in doing so undermine the global fight against climate change. As global leaders make new commitments this week at COP26, it’s time that politicians promise to shine a light on global financial secrecy, particularly the use of anonymous shell companies, as a crucial climate reform.

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Massive “Pandora Papers” Financial Secrecy Leaks Highlight Need for U.S. Reforms

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, along with major news outlets such as the Washington Post, yesterday revealed the largest leak of private financial records to date, eclipsing the Panama Papers in scope and scale. The “Pandora Papers” confirm the use of a secretive “offshore” financial system that allows criminals, world leaders, and others to hide billions of dollars from authorities, fueling tax dodging and corruption.

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Stop Corruption: End Anonymous Companies

On the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an historic measure to end anonymous companies by a veto-proof margin. The Corporate Transparency Act, included in the annual “must-pass” defense bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, is expected to become law before the end of the year. As we mark International Anti-Corruption Day, this significant step forward for the U.S., which has historically lagged behind other nations–hopefully ushers in a new era of U.S. leadership on transparency and anti-corruption.

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