Service type: Enhanced Due Diligence
Overview
A European firm conducting acquisition due diligence on a Libyan-linked entity required independent reputational and integrity assessment of key principals and associated companies.
Standard database checks had returned limited results. The client needed a deeper assessment drawing on in-country intelligence.
The Challenge
Due diligence on Libyan entities presents particular difficulties.
Corporate structures are often opaque, beneficial ownership is frequently obscured through nominee arrangements and the sanctions environment — spanning UN, EU, US, and UK designations — creates material compliance exposure that is not always visible through conventional screening tools.
Reputational risk in the Libyan context also requires understanding individuals' relationships with armed groups, political factions and state institutions in ways that go beyond standard database coverage.
What We Did
Libya Desk produced a structured enhanced due diligence report covering the key principals and entities identified by the client.
The assessment drew on open-source intelligence, Libya Desk's proprietary database of Libyan political, commercial, and security actors, and discreet in-country source enquiries.
The report addressed corporate structure and beneficial ownership, sanctions and designations screening, reputational and political exposure, and known or alleged involvement in irregular financial activity.
Material risks identified during the assessment were summarised for the client's legal and compliance teams.
Outcome
The findings were incorporated directly into the client's deal structure and risk mitigation planning.
Several risk factors surfaced during the assessment had not been identified through the client's prior screening process.
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