investigating people

[CR0X]

we have a couple of investors looking to invest in one of the companies that I am involved with, but I want to do due diligence on them, and make sure that there is nothing murky, especially as HMRC are pretty keen on clean records in our industry.

Any thoughts where to start?

[muppetdave]

For starters a D&B? Perhaps do some digging and check the individuals aren't involved in other companies too - if they are, D&B those as well to make sure there's not a dodgy business floating around in their past.

If I remember correctly, www.192.com lets you view individuals details, and you can find our where they are/have been registered as Directors etc. from which you can then obviously take other actions accordingly.

[CR0X]

a D&B? Probably blatantly obvious, but it is Friday ...

[muppetdave]

Sorry, Dun and Bradstreet (sp.) credit check.

[StevieBee]

A properly commissioned DD should uncover anything untoward and you will (or , “may”) gain a degree of protection if it doesn’t through the accountants liability insurances.

Aside from that, bank and trade references are a good place to start.

[srebbe64]

You could go on Company House and check to see whether they've been banned as Directors.

If you're prepared to PM me their names I may well find something helpful for you.

[CR0X]

I might well do that ... Companies House is the first port of call, but I know that one of them is planning on holding his shares in his own company, so I assume that he can't be barred or once being declared bankrupt.

I can do a search on the company, but that will only tell me about that company not any previous incarnation. Hence the need to do a bit of background work, and quickly on him.

I will get proper details on Monday and will do a credit search on him as a starter.