Who Owns Australian Companies: A Guide To Finding Out

how to find who owns a company in australia

When it comes to finding out who owns a company in Australia, there are several avenues to explore. One option is to refer to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which maintains registers of companies and organisations, including financial professionals and AFS licensees. ASIC's 'Business Name Index' search on ASIC Connect provides details for all business names, and for \$10, you can obtain a Current Company Extract with information such as the registered address, directors' names, and type and number of shares issued. Another resource is the State Library of New South Wales, which offers access to financial documents lodged by publicly listed and large private Australian companies since 1991, as well as telephone and business directories. Additionally, IBISWorld provides industry research reports and information on the top 2,000 Australian companies, including listed and non-listed public companies.

Characteristics Values
Company Information Source ASIC
Company Information Fee $10
Company Information Obtained Current Company Extract - includes registered address, principal place of business, postal address, directors' names, date of birth and addresses; type and number of shares issued
Company Information Available for Free Unique identification number (ABN, ACN, ARBN, ARSN). Company and business name search summaries with ABNs link to the Australian Business Register
Company Name Registration Register.biz.au
Company Name Availability Check Name Availability on ASIC
Company Name Reservation Allowed for up to two months
Company Name Uniqueness Required
Company Name Similarity Not allowed
Company Financial Statements Available for purchase from ASIC's Companies and Organisations register
Company Financial Documents Available in the National Names Index on the ASIC website
Company Owners Available in the National Names Index on the ASIC website
Company AFS Licensees Available in ASIC Professional Registers Search
Company Charitable Status Searchable in ACNC's register

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Search ASIC registers

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) provides a range of online services to search its registers. ASIC Connect allows users to search for business names, companies, SMSF auditors, AFS licensees, credit licensees, liquidators, and auditors. ASIC Online Lodgement provides similar services, with the addition of registered agents, short sellers, and authorised representatives.

The ASIC website also provides a 'Banned and Disqualified' search, which details any bannings or disqualifications handed down by ASIC. This includes people banned from managing companies under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

The 'Business Name Index' search on ASIC Connect provides details for all business names. The 'Organisations and Business Names' search on ASIC Connect may also be useful.

The ASIC website also provides a search for certificates of transfer for licensed trustee companies. This register shows copies of the certificates of transfer issued following transfer determinations.

The ASIC website also provides a search for enforceable undertakings, which are undertakings that are enforceable in court.

The ASIC website also provides a search for infringement notices paid under various Acts, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (ASIC Act) and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act).

The ASIC website also offers an app that allows users to search Australia's business name and company registers, as well as New Zealand's company register.

To search for a person's name to find out if they are associated with any companies, see Form 963 Application for information about a specific personal name. The ASIC Professional Registers Search includes information on AFS licensees, credit licensees, auditors, liquidators, and other financial professionals.

Some of ASIC's search products are free, while others require a fee. The ASIC website outlines the different types of information available and provides examples of free and paid searches.

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Check ASIC's Current Company Extract

If you want to find out who owns a company in Australia, you can search for the company on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website.

ASIC provides a range of search options to help you find information about a company. One of the most comprehensive is the ASIC Current Company Extract. This document provides detailed information about a company, including its registered address, principal place of business, postal address, directors' names, date of birth and addresses, type and number of shares issued, and more.

  • Go to the ASIC Connect website at connectonline.asic.gov.au.
  • On the top right of the website, click on the 'Search ASIC Registers' section.
  • In the dropdown menu, select 'Organisation and Business Names'.
  • Enter the company name in the next field and click 'Go'.
  • From the search results, select the company you are looking for.
  • You will be able to purchase the ASIC Current Company Extract for this company. Note that there is also a free summary available, but it does not include the registered business address.

The ASIC Current Company Extract is a useful document if you have a dispute with a company and need to take legal action. It confirms that you are taking action against the correct company and provides the registered address for serving legal documents.

In addition to the Current Company Extract, ASIC offers other search options that may provide information about company ownership. These include the ''Banned and Disqualified' search, which lists any bannings or disqualifications handed down by ASIC, and the ''Business Name Index' search, which provides details for all business names.

ASIC also maintains registers of licensed trustee companies, enforceable undertakings, and infringement notices. These registers can provide valuable insights into a company's legal and regulatory standing.

It is important to note that some companies may no longer be registered with ASIC and will be listed as deregistered. Additionally, ASIC provides free and paid search options, with the paid options typically providing more comprehensive information.

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Consult the National Names Index

To find out who owns a company in Australia, one of the methods is to consult the National Names Index. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) maintains a 'Business Name Index' or a register of business names, which is a good way to determine the current status of a business name. The index includes the details for all business names.

The ASIC website also has an Organisations and Business Names search feature on ASIC Connect, which can be used to find the owners of a company. The information provided for free includes the unique identification number (ABN, ACN, ARBN, ARSN), and company and business name search summaries with ABNs linked to the Australian Business Register.

For more detailed information, you can purchase an extract that has current and/or historical information about the organisation. This can include the registered address, principal place of business, postal address, directors' names, date of birth and addresses, type and number of shares issued, etc.

It is important to note that some business names may only have a postal address listed in full when searching the register. Additionally, in some states, documents can only be served at a physical or street address, so it is advisable to check the local law to determine which address should be used.

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Search ASIC's Business Name Register

To find out who owns a company in Australia, one of the go-to sources is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). ASIC maintains a register of Australian business and company names, as well as New Zealand's company register.

ASIC's website provides an online service called ASIC Connect, which allows users to search the business name index for details on all business names. It also provides an Organisations and Business Names search, where you can search by the company's name or its Australian Company Number (ACN).

The ASIC register also includes information on AFS licensees, credit licensees, auditors, liquidators, and other financial professionals. You can search for a person's name to find out if they are associated with any companies, but personal information such as date and place of birth and residential address are not available to the public for privacy reasons.

ASIC also provides a Check name availability search to see if a company name is available, and you can create alerts to track a company and receive notices when they lodge documents.

While some information on the ASIC Business Names Register is available for free, other search products require a fee.

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Use the ABN Lookup tool

The Australian Business Register (ABR) is a free public database that provides access to information about businesses that have registered for an Australian Business Number (ABN). The ABN Lookup tool can be used to find information about a company's ownership in Australia.

The ABN Lookup tool allows users to search for a company by entering its ABN or Australian Company Name. It is important to note that not all Australian Company Numbers are recorded on the ABR, so if you cannot find the company you are looking for, you may need to manually enter the ACN and company name.

The ABN Lookup tool provides a range of information about registered businesses, including their trading names, registered business address, and principal place of business. This information can be useful for verifying the legitimacy of a company and for serving legal purposes, such as small claims cases.

In addition to the basic business details, the ABN Lookup tool also provides access to the ASIC Connect 'Organisations and Business Names' search. This search includes information on AFS licensees, credit licensees, auditors, liquidators, and other financial professionals associated with the company.

For more detailed information about a company's ownership structure, users can refer to the ASIC website, which provides a range of paid search options. For example, for $10, the Current Company Extract includes the directors' names, date of birth and addresses, type and number of shares issued, and other relevant details.

Frequently asked questions

You can use the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Business Name Register, the Australian Business Register’s ABN Lookup tool, or a simple Google search. These tools will help you identify the owner of a company by revealing if the company name is already taken or if it is similar to an existing business.

ASIC is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It is an app that lets you search Australia's business name and company registers.

Anyone who offers you a financial or investment product or gives you financial advice must have an Australian financial services (AFS) licence or be authorised by someone who is licensed. You can check if a company is licensed by searching the ASIC website.

You can find financial documents, such as half-yearly reports, lodged by publicly listed and large private Australian companies since 1 January 1991 in the National Names Index on the ASIC website.

You can use the ASIC Professional Registers Search, which includes information on AFS licensees, credit licensees, auditors, liquidators, and other financial professionals.

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