Before acquiring a business, purchasing property, entering a partnership or committing funds, decision-makers may need more than the information supplied by the other party. Ownership interests, litigation, judgments, loans, insurance interests and business affiliations can be spread across several records and jurisdictions.
Global Screenings provides reputation intelligence and asset research for individuals, businesses and organizations. The service can support investors, buyers, sellers and other authorized parties that need a clearer view of a subject’s business track record, ownership interests, financial background and involvement in legal proceedings.
Reputation and Business Track Record
A reputation review can help establish how an individual or organization has been connected with businesses, partnerships, assets and legal matters over time. The purpose is to identify available information that may be relevant to an investment, acquisition, transaction or other important decision.
Depending on the subject, jurisdiction and agreed scope, the review may consider:
- Business ownership records
- Corporate and partnership interests
- Business affiliations
- Personal background information
- Litigation status and legal proceedings
- Judgments and other available court records
- Available financial information
- Loans and insurance interests
Asset Search and Ownership Research
An asset search examines available records connected with property, vehicles, companies, partnerships, investments and other ownership interests. The scope may be used to review information already disclosed by the subject or to identify records that require further consideration.
Available asset research may include:
- Land ownership records
- Commercial property interests
- Residential property interests
- Vehicle ownership records
- Corporate business interests
- Partnership interests
- Investment-related records
- Loan interests
- Insurance interests
- Asset transfer documentation where available
- Judgments connected with the subject
- Records that may indicate undisclosed or additional assets
Litigation, Judgments and Financial Research
Past or current litigation can provide important context when reviewing an individual or business. A search may identify available court proceedings, judgments, ownership disputes, financial claims or other legal matters connected with the subject.
Financial research may include available information relating to loans, insurance interests, business transactions, judgments and other financial records included in the agreed scope.
A legal or financial record should be read in context. A dispute may still be pending, a judgment may have been settled, and a similar name may relate to another person or business. The status, date, jurisdiction and identity match are therefore important parts of the review.
When Reputation Intelligence May Be Useful
Reputation and asset intelligence may be considered when:
- Reviewing a proposed business acquisition
- Purchasing land, commercial property or residential property
- Considering an investment opportunity
- Entering a business partnership
- Reviewing a buyer, seller or other transaction party
- Examining an individual’s or company’s business track record
- Identifying available ownership and affiliation records
- Reviewing litigation, judgments or financial concerns
- Supporting an authorized investigation or legal matter
For a deeper review of a company, owner or business partner, reputation and asset research may form part of Third Party Integrity Due Diligence.
Business Ownership and Affiliation Checks
An individual may be connected with more than one company, partnership or commercial interest. Business ownership and affiliation searches can help identify available records showing those relationships.
The review may consider:
- Current and previous business ownership
- Corporate interests
- Partnership interests
- Associated businesses
- Available ownership or transfer records
- Links between the subject and other organizations
Where broader corporate or public information is required, the review may also be supported by Public Record Searches.
Reviewing Possible Matches
Ownership, litigation and financial records should not be connected to a subject on the basis of a similar name alone. Common names, spelling variations, previous names and incomplete identifying information can result in records relating to another person or organization.
Where available, a possible match should be compared with information such as:
- Full legal name and known variations
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Current and previous addresses
- Company names and registration details
- Ownership or partnership information
- The jurisdiction in which the record was found
The report should distinguish between information that appears to be confirmed, a possible match, information that could not be verified and a search that returned no available record.
Asset Searches Across Different Countries
Asset, ownership, litigation and financial records vary by country. Some jurisdictions provide searchable online records, while others require manual research through local registries, courts, authorities or other available sources.
Certain assets or interests may not be publicly recorded or may be held under a business, partnership or another legal arrangement. A search that does not identify an asset does not necessarily prove that no asset exists.
The countries involved, the available identifiers and the type of asset or record being reviewed should therefore be considered before the search coverage is confirmed.
Using Reputation and Asset Findings
The completed research can help an authorized client understand the information available about a subject’s reputation, business interests, assets, litigation and financial background. It may identify matters that warrant further review before a transaction, investment or acquisition proceeds.
Global Screenings reports information identified within the agreed scope. The service does not provide a property valuation, determine legal ownership beyond the available records, or replace legal, financial or investment advice. Final decisions remain with the client and its professional advisers.
Where the findings require a broader inquiry, the matter may also be considered through our Investigation Services.
