Schedules 13D and 13G are commonly referred to as a “beneficial ownership reports.” The term “beneficial owner” is defined under SEC rules. It includes any person who directly or indirectly shares voting power or investment power (the power to sell the security).
When a person or group of persons acquires beneficial ownership of more than five percent of a voting class of a company’s equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act, they are required to file a Schedule 13D with the SEC. Depending upon the facts and circumstances, the person or group of persons may be eligible to file the more abbreviated Schedule 13G in lieu of Schedule 13D.
Schedule 13D reports the acquisition and other information within 10 days after the purchase. The schedule is filed with the SEC and is provided to the company that issued the securities and each exchange where the security is traded. Any material changes in the facts contained in the schedule require a prompt amendment. The schedule is often filed in connection with a tender offer.
You can find the Schedules 13D and 13G for most publicly traded companies in the SEC’s EDGAR database. You can learn how to use EDGAR to find information about companies.