Question 1

Financial Due Diligence for a European Football Club

Accepted Answer

The client hired Kroll to assess the veracity and reliability of suspicious transactions identified by an independent expert. We were also required to identify those directors and employees involved in the alleged scheme and evaluate the damage, if any, suffered by the client. Kroll conducted an in-depth analysis of financial records, client data, a market price assessment, a forensic analysis of relevant devices, corporate intelligence and internal interviews. The findings of the investigation informed the basis of the client’s filing of a complaint with the local prosecutor.

Question 2

Prospective Owners Assessment

Accepted Answer

We were engaged to assess the online profiles of consortia participating in the bidding process to buy a Premier League football club. We conducted a thorough open-source intelligence gathering exercise, including database searches, public records checks and deployed our in-house tools to identify the social media profiles of the individuals and any adverse media associated with them. We provided comprehensive reports on the subjects within two weeks. The findings aided the client in their decision-making process of identifying a suitable buyer for the club.

Question 3

Match-Fixing Investigation

Accepted Answer

Kroll was engaged by a leading South American football club to investigate potential irregularities by match officials during a cup final. The client believed that the referee received information from an external, unauthorized party, which led him to reverse his initial decision to award a penalty kick. Kroll reviewed video footage from the official broadcast and security cameras inside the stadium, and images received by the club from spectators. Kroll’s review included all interactions among the match officials with players, coaching staff and other individuals on the field. Kroll’s review included an expert opinion of a forensic speech reader. Kroll also analyzed the content of the referees’ and the other match officials’ depositions. Kroll’s findings highlighted many possible irregularities, including the presence of unauthorized personnel on the field and the use of mobile phones. Kroll’s evidence helped its client in a Brazilian sports court proceeding. The case was also used as an argument to institute the use of video assistance referee technology in state championship matches.

Question 4

Cryptocurrency Asset Search

Accepted Answer

We were engaged by a Premier League football club to identify the crypto assets belonging to a partner. The partner had not paid the client according to the partnership contract and was rumored to have become insolvent. The client wanted Kroll to assess the veracity of the information. With partial information provided by the client, and through open-source research, we identified the source of the rumor and the assets held by the partner. We assessed the assets, employing crypto-tracing tools and expertise, with open-source investigative work to identify the status of the crypto assets. We identified the value and locations of the crypto assets belonging to the partner. The client used this information as evidence to support legal proceedings to terminate their contract with the partner.

Question 5

Illicit Trade Investigation

Accepted Answer

We were engaged by a coalition of luxury brands to gather intelligence to identify a network of traders and manufacturers believed to be involved in counterfeit trade in Europe, Hong Kong and the U.S. We used various investigative methods and analyses of intelligence to identify the individuals and companies in the network. We also worked closely with many courts in Turkey that helped us to act quickly to organize raids to recover the fake goods. We identified the individuals and companies involved in the network. By working closely with multiple courts in Turkey, we were able to act quickly to organize raids that recovered 2.1 million items of fake goods. We also found that counterfeit goods purporting to be from other luxury brands were also present in high quantities. We let the companies know that we could help shut down supply chains distributing fake versions of their goods, and they agreed to collaborate with our client.

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