1. Member States shall ensure that entities in charge of the central registers as referred to in Article 10 take measures to verify the existence of the legitimate interest referred to in Article 12 on the basis of documents, information and data obtained from the natural or legal person seeking access to the central register ('applicant') and, where necessary, information available to them pursuant to Article 12(3).
2. The existence of a legitimate interest to access beneficial ownership information shall be determined by taking into consideration:
(a) the function or occupation of the applicant; and
(b) with the exception of persons referred to in Article 12(2), first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), the connection with the specific legal entities or legal arrangements whose information is being sought.
3. Member States shall ensure that where access to information is requested by a person whose legitimate interest in accessing beneficial ownership information under one of the categ
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