Case Study: Comprehensive Due Diligence for a Major Investment Decision

Client: Large Swiss-Based Investment Firm

Service: Due Diligence & Vetting

The Challenge

When an investment firm considers committing a substantial sum to a new venture, the quality of its due diligence can determine the success or failure of the deal. Our client, a Swiss-based investment company with a strong international presence, was preparing to invest heavily in a European business. Before proceeding, they wanted absolute certainty about the integrity of the company’s board of directors.

While financial statements and company reports can provide insight into a firm’s stability, it is the track record, ethics, and credibility of its leadership that often carry the greatest weight in investment decisions. Any undisclosed criminal history, financial irregularity, or political exposure could create significant legal and reputational risks. The client required a rigorous and independent assessment that went far beyond standard corporate checks.

Our Approach

Conflict International was instructed to carry out full consent-based background checks on every board member of the target company. Unlike discreet investigations, consented checks allowed us to access a broader range of official records, ensuring complete transparency in the process.

The scope of our work included:

• Criminal record checks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Financial sanctions searches, ensuring no director was restricted by international regulatory bodies.
• Political exposure reviews, verifying whether any of the directors held positions that might pose conflicts of interest or increase corruption risks.
• Bankruptcy and insolvency checks, identifying any past or pending financial mismanagement.
• Global data sweeps, ensuring that no relevant detail was overlooked in jurisdictions where the company or its directors had lived or conducted business.

Each director’s identity was verified through official documentation and cross-checked against international databases. Our methodology was designed not only to identify potential red flags but also to give the client peace of mind that their investment would be made into a business led by trustworthy individuals.

The Investigation

Our multi-jurisdictional checks involved liaising with official registries, reviewing court and bankruptcy filings, and searching global compliance databases. By combining open-source intelligence with licensed access to specialist data, we were able to paint a complete picture of each director’s professional and personal history.

While the investigation confirmed that the majority of directors had clear records, it also highlighted minor irregularities in one case, including an association with a previously dissolved entity that had failed under regulatory scrutiny. By flagging this early, we enabled the client to question the director directly, ensuring full disclosure before the investment moved forward.

The Outcome

Armed with our findings, the client was able to make an informed decision. The transparency provided by our consented checks reassured them that there were no hidden liabilities or reputational risks significant enough to jeopardise the deal. As a result, the investment proceeded with confidence, backed by documented assurance that the leadership of the target company had been thoroughly vetted.

Continuing Support

Our relationship with the client did not end with this single transaction. Recognising the value of ongoing oversight, the firm engaged Conflict International to conduct both consented and discreet background checks on a recurring basis for all major investment decisions. By building this due diligence process into their global operations, the client has been able to protect themselves against unforeseen risks, maintain compliance with international standards, and reinforce trust with their investors.