Our client was in negotiations to acquire a rival business with operations in Central and South America. The client was particularly concerned about successor liability due to the target’s reliance on third-party sales agents.
We conducted thorough due diligence on around 50 agents, assessing their backgrounds, sales methods, and any potential involvement in bribery or political manipulation. We discovered that 10 agents used high-level political connections, with credible bribery claims against four. Our findings influenced our client’s compliance planning and shaped the commercial negotiations.
Our client, a major multinational investment bank, sought to understand the source of wealth and financing mechanisms of an international development charity. They were concerned about potential financial crime vulnerabilities and political connections that could pose reputational risks.
To investigate, we leveraged our global network of contacts to examine the charity’s financial network. We inquired about funding sources, financial controls, and monitoring processes, focusing on potential vulnerabilities. We also looked into any involvement with controversial politicians or political influence. While we identified some issues with how donations were collected, we found that the charity had strong safeguards against financial crime and generally remained politically neutral, focusing on supporting oppressed communities.