|
|
Related link:EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
Due
Diligence and Business Backgrounds:
Before
entering into critical business transactions, companies need to have a clear
understanding of the personal and business histories of the parties involved.
Years ago, companies did business within their own communities, and were
personally knowledgeable about the business and personal reputations of those
with whom they were considering doing business. Often, a walk down the street
to the facility of a prospective vendor, partner, or customer could
inexpensively answer many questions about the capabilities of the other
party, simply by observing the operation firsthand.
Today, opportunities with interstate or international partners abound, making
business more risky. As companies grow out of their immediate neighborhoods,
total strangers present them with different ways of doing business. Because
businesses lack firsthand experience with everyone they are considering doing
business with, they have the obligation to be careful of the proposals
furnished to them.
It has been the experience of Eurosurveillance pfa Romania. (over many years,
and hundreds of due diligence investigations), that a surprisingly large
percentage of performance or experience claims are untrue, or at best,
inflated. Closer examination of deals and parties often reveal undisclosed
civil and/or criminal litigation histories, personal and business
bankruptcies, false addresses, and serious financial problems, all of which
can make a business association less than ideal.
Eurosurveillance pfa’s investigation methods move past the traditional
computer checks offered by other firms, and expand the investigation scope to
develop information from a host of proprietary sources. This information can
identify organized crime ties, fraudulent dealings, associations of dubious
character, or poor past performance. Our ability to be on the ground where
the prospective business is located, returns to our clients some of the home
town advantage lost when they moved into the global marketplace.
Not all new business ventures have an unacceptable amount of risk, and not
all investigations lead to the killing of deals. To the contrary, many
investigations serve to confirm the facts as presented in the proposal or
application process. Many times, the investigation will explain perceived
inconsistencies in bids, and provide valuable information for use in
negotiations. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, companies can
move forward with confidence, knowing that they are making informed decisions
based upon the best possible information.
Undertaking test purchases often forms part of
wider investigations into the infringement of clients’ Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR). Alternatively, clients will instruct us to undertake a
dedicated program of test purchases to obtain evidence of unauthorised or
illegal trading activities.
By using our network of cover companies, which are fully supported by
financial and credit facilities, secretarial services and physical drop-offs,
we are able covertly to purchase goods of concern to our clients, whether
this be in the physical marketplace or from the growing number of rogue
on-line traders.
All test purchases are undertaken in such a way as to ensure both the
continuity of the evidence and that the necessary supporting correspondence,
receipts and details of the negotiations are obtained . Depending on the
nature of the assignment, we can both act as authorised and trained experts
to assist in product verification, and, if required, provide witness
statements on our clients behalf.
|
|
