Is a 25% shareholder a PSC?

Asked by: Mr. Ahmad Cruickshank  |  Last update: July 31, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (60 votes)

A 25% shareholder is generally not considered a Person with Significant Control (PSC) under UK law, as the threshold is more than 25%. To qualify, an individual must hold directly or indirectly greater than 25% of shares or voting rights, or exercise significant influence or control.

Are you a PSC if you hold 25 of shares?

∎ A PSC of a company is an individual who satisfies one or more of the following conditions in relation to the company: Condition 1 – holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the shares in the company. Condition 2 – holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting rights in the company.

What does 25% shareholder mean?

Each share represents a slice of the business. For example, if a company has 100 shares in total, owning 25 shares means you own 25% of the company. Shareholders are entitled to a corresponding portion of the company's profits (dividends) based on their percentage of shares.

Is a PSC the same as a shareholder?

Any shareholder with over 25% of the issued capital will automatically become a PSC, other provisions exist for those holding over 25% of the voting rights or powers to appoint and resign directors, these individuals or corporate bodies will also need to be registered as a PSC.

Who can be exempt from PSC requirements?

DTR 5 issuers (ie a companies on the Main Market or AIM or otherwise subject to the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules) are exempt from the requirement to keep a PSC register.

Company Law: Shares and Shareholders in 3 Minutes

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Who should be listed as a PSC?

A person with significant control (PSC) is someone who controls or owns your company. A company can have just one PSC or several. Some business types, such as limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), require that you keep a 'person with significant control' (PSC) register.

Is it mandatory for a company to have a company secretary?

Section 203 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule, 8A of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 mandates every company whose paid-up Capital is Rs. 5 Crores or more to appoint a whole-time company secretary.

Can a 50% shareholder remove a director?

The Articles may provide a procedure for this; otherwise the statutory procedure must be used. The statutory procedure allows any director to be removed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders in general meetings (i.e., the holders of more than 50% of the voting shares must agree).

What are the drawbacks of using a PSC?

Some key disadvantages include:

  • Flat 21% federal tax rate: Unlike other corporations that benefit from tax brackets, PSCs are taxed at a flat corporate rate.
  • Double taxation risk: If not structured properly, you may be taxed on corporate earnings and again on dividends.

What does it mean to own 25% of a company?

25-percent Shareholder means a Participant who owns more than twenty-five percent of any class of outstanding stock of the Company or any Affiliated Company.

What is the minimum 25 public shareholding?

Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) mandates that listed companies in India maintain at least 25% public ownership of their total issued and paid-up equity. This prevents promoter over-concentration, helps ensure fair price discovery, and improves overall market liquidity and corporate governance.

What rights does a 20% shareholder have?

A shareholder with any amount of 'ordinary' shares (the most common type of share) will enjoy the following rights in a company:

  • Receive a share certificate. ...
  • Attend any general meetings. ...
  • Cast votes on certain proposed actions. ...
  • Receive dividends. ...
  • Transfer shares. ...
  • Exercise pre-emption rights.

Can a director who is not a shareholder be a PSC?

A director is not automatically considered a person with significant control (PSC). To qualify as a PSC, a director must also be a shareholder holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or possess the authority to appoint/remove the majority of directors. Thus, not all directors are PSCs.

How does a PSC work?

A Production Sharing Contract (PSC) is a common agreement between a government (or a national oil company acting on behalf of the government) and a private oil company (or a group of companies) regarding the exploration and production of oil and gas resources.

How to get rid of a 50% shareholder?

Check the company Articles of Association, Shareholders' Agreement, and if the shareholder is also a director, the Director's Service Agreement. These may have provisions for removing a shareholder/director and setting out an agreed process for resolving disputes.

What percentage is considered a major shareholder?

A majority shareholder is an individual or company who owns more than 50 percent of a company's shares of stock. Shareholders own shares of stock in public or private limited companies but do not own the actual corporation.

What is better, a CC or a PTY Ltd?

There are a couple of key differences:

CCs were easier and cheaper to maintain, but had limited growth potential. A (Pty) Ltd has more formal governance and is better suited for expansion, funding, or long-term planning.

What is a 50% shareholder called?

A majority shareholder is one who owns 50% or more of the shares in a company. This can be an individual or a group who have formed to pass a specific resolution. A minority shareholder is the opposite; anyone owning less than half of shares.

Who is more powerful, a director or a shareholder?

Generally, directors have more day-to-day control over a company, but shareholders—especially majority shareholders—can exert significant influence through voting rights and resolutions.

How to get rid of an unwanted shareholder?

Legal and agreement‑based methods for removing a shareholder

  1. Refer to the shareholders' agreement.
  2. Consult professionals.
  3. Claim majority.
  4. Negotiate.
  5. Create a noncompete agreement.

Can a majority shareholder fire a CEO?

In most cases, the board of directors has the power to remove the CEO, but majority shareholders can influence the decision. What legal risks should be considered when ousting a CEO? Legal risks include wrongful termination lawsuits, breach of contract claims, and shareholder disputes.

Who cannot be a company secretary?

Company secretaries

Some companies use them to take on some of the directors' responsibilities. The company secretary can be a director but cannot be: the company's auditor. an 'undischarged bankrupt' - unless they have permission from the court.

Is CS harder than CA?

Difficulty. CA deals with numerical and case studies chapters on the other hand CS has more theoretical subjects. Most students tend to find CA subjects more challenging because they have a practical approach while CS has a theoretical approach.

What is the threshold for company secretary?

Every private company which has a paid up share capital of ten crore rupees or more shall have a whole -time company secretary. A company other than a company covered under rule 8 which has a paid up share capital of five crore rupees or more shall have a whole-time company secretary.