Summary: How to Find Major Shareholders or Institutional Investors in KGKG
If you’re wondering who actually owns the bulk of KGKG (Kona Gold Beverage, Inc.) stock—especially the big institutional players or large shareholders—this article will walk you through real-world steps, show you where to get the data, and share a few industry secrets and frustrations I’ve picked up from years of digging through SEC filings and investor databases. We’ll also explore the challenges of transparency with OTC-listed companies, talk about how “verified trade” standards differ internationally, and use a practical example of a cross-border investment dispute. Expect caveats, some hands-on screenshots, and a bit of personal experience (including one or two moments where I got the data wrong and had to backtrack).
What Problem Does This Article Solve?
A lot of retail investors and even some professionals want to know who the real power players are behind a publicly traded company. For companies like KGKG, which trade over-the-counter (OTC), it’s even trickier, because they’re not subject to the same disclosure standards as NYSE or NASDAQ listings.
This article shows you:
- How to actually find (or fail to find) major shareholders and institutional investors in KGKG
- What data is publicly available, and where to get it (with links and screenshots)
- How the US and other countries legally require disclosure of ownership, and how those rules impact your research
- An example of how cross-border “verified trade” standards create headaches for investors and regulators
Step 1: Understanding KGKG’s Market Position & Disclosure Rules
First, a bit of context. Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. (OTC: KGKG) is an OTC-listed company, meaning it trades on the OTC Markets platform rather than a major exchange. This matters because companies on OTC Markets generally file less frequent and less detailed reports than big-board companies. That means finding reliable shareholder data is more challenging.
According to the SEC’s own guidance, OTC companies are not always required to disclose the same level of detail about their shareholders unless an individual or entity crosses key ownership thresholds (like 5%).
Step 2: Actually Hunting Down the Major Shareholders (With Screenshots)
Here’s how I personally go about this—warts and all.
2.1 Start With the Official OTC Markets Website
This is always my first stop. Go to KGKG’s Security Details page on OTC Markets. Scroll down to the “Share Structure” section. You’ll get:
- Total Outstanding Shares
- Restricted vs. Unrestricted Shares
- Float (shares available for trading)
2.2 Check SEC Filings (EDGAR System)
Now, I’ll search the SEC’s EDGAR database for “KGKG”. Type in the ticker, hit search. For OTC companies, you might find annual reports (10-K, 10-K/A), but often they file “OTC Annual Reports” or “Attorney Letters with Respect to Current Information.”
If there’s a 10-K or “Information Statement” (DEF 14C, for instance), open it and search for the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” section. In practice, for KGKG, you’ll often see management and directors, but not always a list of institutional shareholders unless one of them owns over 5%. (SEC Rule 13D/G requires 5%+ holders to file.)
2.3 Institutional Ownership Databases (Like Nasdaq, Yahoo, Fintel, etc.)
Sometimes, data aggregators like Fintel or Yahoo! Finance have “institutional holders” tabs. But for KGKG, last time I checked, the “Institutional Holders” page was empty or showed “No holders found.” This doesn’t mean there are no large holders—it just means none are required to report, or the data isn’t being picked up by these aggregators.
Here’s what it looks like when you get nothing:
Honestly, this is the point where I usually get a little annoyed, because for OTC stocks, this dead end is common. Sometimes, I’ll even try Bloomberg terminals (if I have access) or S&P Capital IQ, but for microcaps like KGKG, they’re often blank too.
2.4 Direct Company Filings or Investor Relations
If you’re feeling ambitious (or desperate), you can try emailing the company’s investor relations contact, asking for a breakdown of major shareholders. Sometimes they’ll respond with a list (especially if you’re polite and explain you’re a retail investor). But don’t expect miracles.
Step 3: International Standards—How “Verified Trade” and Shareholder Disclosure Differs by Country
Let’s zoom out for a second. Even if you could find KGKG’s major shareholders, what counts as “verified” varies around the world. Here’s a quick comparison table (based on actual regulations and industry practice):
| Country/Region | Standard Name | Legal Basis | Enforcement Body | Shareholder Disclosure Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Schedule 13D/13G | SEC Rule 13d-1 | SEC | 5% beneficial ownership |
| European Union | Transparency Directive | Directive 2004/109/EC | National Regulators | 5% (sometimes lower, e.g. 3%) |
| Japan | Large Shareholding Report | Financial Instruments and Exchange Act | FSA | 5% beneficial ownership |
| China | Listed Company Shareholder Disclosure | CSRC Regulations | CSRC | 5% |
In practice, these rules only force disclosure at fairly high thresholds. For small OTC companies like KGKG, there may be zero institutional disclosures simply because no one owns enough to trigger reporting. See OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004) for a global overview.
Step 4: Real or Simulated Case—A Cross-Border Dispute Over Shareholder Transparency
Let me tell you about a real-world headache I had consulting for a US investor who wanted to buy a big chunk of a German small-cap stock (not KGKG, but the process is similar). The investor wanted to know: “If I cross 5%, will everyone know?” In Germany, the answer is yes—disclosure is required at 3% and above, unlike the US 5% rule. The investor almost bought 4.9% to avoid disclosure, but then realized that in some EU countries, related party rules could force disclosure anyway. We called a German securities lawyer, who confirmed: “You’ll be flagged by the regulator and the exchange—don’t try to sneak under the radar.” (See BaFin guidance.)
I’ll admit, I once completely missed a Schedule 13G filing for a microcap US stock because the owner filed under a trust, not their own name. It was only after a colleague pointed out the trust’s address matched the CEO’s that I realized my mistake—sometimes, even when disclosure is required, it takes detective work to connect the dots.
Industry Expert View: Why Institutional Ownership Matters (or Doesn’t) for OTC Stocks
To get a broader view, I asked a friend who manages an institutional fund (let’s call him “Dave”) about the OTC market: “Honestly, we almost never touch OTC stocks—there’s just not enough reporting. If we want to build a position, we usually call the company directly. For companies like KGKG, if you don’t see filings, assume ownership is fragmented among retail or friendly insiders.” Dave’s point is echoed by Nasdaq’s own research about institutional avoidance of OTC stocks.
Summary & Next Steps
Here’s the blunt truth: For KGKG, as of the last update, there are no major institutional or large shareholders publicly disclosed via OTC Markets, SEC filings, or the big data aggregators. This is typical for OTC companies, especially microcaps. If you want to get closer to the truth, your best bet is to:
- Watch for new SEC Schedule 13D/G filings (over 5% ownership)
- Dig through the company’s annual reports for management and insider holdings
- Contact the company directly (with low expectations)
- Monitor message boards and investor forums for rumors (with a big grain of salt)
Internationally, “verified trade” and ownership disclosure standards vary, but all major economies require some public reporting for large holders (usually at 5%). The lack of data for KGKG isn’t a failure of research—it’s a function of how the rules work and the company’s size.
My personal recommendation? If you need verified ownership info for due diligence, stick to larger, exchange-listed stocks. For OTC issues like KGKG, transparency will always be a challenge. If you’re determined to invest, treat the lack of disclosure as a risk factor.
For more on international disclosure standards, check out the OECD’s Principles of Corporate Governance. If you have a better method for digging up OTC shareholder data, I’d love to hear about it—drop me a line or comment on this post.