Before signing with a new supplier or client, you check their financial health. But do you know if this partner is linked to sanctioned people or to risky entities? A single problematic commercial relationship can be costly, in terms of cash flow losses, fines and reputation.
To help companies manage these new risks, Coface is now integrating compliance controls into Urba360, thanks to a partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
Alexander Tame (Senior Channel Partner Manager, at LSEG), Giulia Branduardi (Partnership Manager) and Felipe Henao Brand (GTM Manager), both for Coface Business Information, explain this new feature and its concrete benefits for businesses.
Why go beyond financial health?
Table of Contents
- Why go beyond financial health?
- World-Check One: the reference KYC database
- Who is affected?
- Who can benefit from this data?
- So, from mid-sized companies to large companies, especially those involved in import/export, but also national companies, this data helps ensure that their partners are not linked to sanctions or politically exposed persons?
- Felipe, you mentioned that this data is not just for compliance or legal teams, but it can also be used by procurement, supplier management, and customer onboarding teams.
- A single tool for all your checks
Why did you add this compliance verification service to Urba360?
Felipe HENAO BRAND: When evaluating business partners, it is important not to limit yourself to financial indicators alone. Organizations should check whether their potential business partners are linked to sanctioned or politically exposed individuals. Unveiling complex ownership structures helps reduce regulatory and reputational risks. While accelerating onboarding processes like KYC and making decisions with confidence.
World-Check One: the reference KYC database
Giulia, why did Coface choose LSEG as a partner?
Giulia BRANDUARDI: LSEG was already a long-standing trusted partner of Coface for credit insurance. We have extended our partnership to leverage their solution and data for our Coface Business Information clients. LSEG is trusted by financial institutions around the world and is considered a stable API provider, especially in an era where connectivity is crucial.
From an operational perspective, LSEG demonstrated flexibility in contracting, which helped us adapt our solution to market needs. Their product, World-Check One, includes adverse media checks, ownership and control analyses, and monitoring services, making it the ideal product and partner for us.
Alex, can you tell us about the LSEG World-Check One solution?
Alexander TAME: World-Check is a risk intelligence database used in verification programs for KYC, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing, sanctions and anti-corruption compliance. It is built from open source information and provides high-quality, structured data on people and entities with high risk profiles.
The database is created according to strict inclusion criteria, consistent with global compliance legislation. It is used to control customers, transactions, suppliers, agents, intermediaries, vessels, ultimate beneficial owners, etc.
As Felipe mentioned, companies need to identify their exposure to sanctioned individuals, politically exposed individuals, and those who are listed by law enforcement or subject to negative media coverage.
Who is affected?
Who can benefit from this data?
FHB: Any company involved in cross-border trade can benefit, but it is not limited to import-export companies. Even local businesses can use this information to protect themselves.
Alex mentioned the structured data and analytics used by LSEG, which helps identify local partners who may be exposed to sanctions due to hidden and complex ownership ties.
CFOs, KYC or anti-money laundering analysts, procurement, risk and compliance teams all benefit: KYC Compliance Monitoring adds sanctions or Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and beneficial ownership checks to Urba360’s financial view, reducing regulatory and reputational risks. This data is not just for compliance teams, it is relevant for all departments.
So, from mid-sized companies to large companies, especially those involved in import/export, but also national companies, this data helps ensure that their partners are not linked to sanctions or politically exposed persons?
FHB: Exactly. It’s all about minimizing exposure and risks.
AT: Felipe summed up the situation well. Every business has suppliers and a sales channel, both of which represent potential exposure to financial crime, regulatory violations and reputational damage.
This data helps mitigate these risks by enabling a robust third-party risk management process.
Carrying out a detailed and holistic assessment of relevant risks before engaging with a new third party is an essential part of managing any supply chain or distribution network.
World-Check, now alongside Coface, directly supports this process.
Felipe, you mentioned that this data is not just for compliance or legal teams, but it can also be used by procurement, supplier management, and customer onboarding teams.
FHB: Yes, and it depends on the size of the organization. In small businesses, a single person may perform multiple functions: finance, compliance, purchasing.
Having a tool like World-Check One allows you to manage financial and compliance risks in one place. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure safe business practices.
A single tool for all your checks
How does this benefit our customers? Where will they use this information?
FHB: The advantage is to have unified access to both platforms: Coface’s commercial scores and opinions, as well as LSEG’s structured data.
By combining Coface’s Credit Score and Advice with LSEG’s structured sanctions/PEP and ownership data, clients benefit from a single, actionable view for real-world use cases: initial onboarding (finance, Anti-Money Laundering), vendor selection (Procurement, Risk) and payment controls (Treasury).
This partnership brings best-in-class data to businesses of all sizes, even those that don’t typically think about compliance controls. We democratize access to quality data and information.
Thanks to all 3. Any last words?
Alexander TAME: World-Check is a negative database, but we consider it a business catalyst. It allows businesses to operate with confidence and efficiency.
It is a comprehensive tool that promotes fast and secure decision-making, helping businesses grow while remaining compliant.
Giulia BRANDUARDI: We are enriching Urba360 with more content for our customers.
Felipe HENAO BRAND: This is the first in a long series of valuable partnerships. By bringing together the best suppliers, we democratize access to quality data while simplifying the task for our customers.
The partnership between Coface and LSEG marks a significant step forward in risk management and business intelligence. By integrating World-Check One into Coface’s offering, companies of all sizes have access to powerful tools that help them select their partners, mitigate risks and operate with confidence. Whether you are a multinational or a growing mid-sized company, this partnership ensures you have the information you need to protect your business and thrive in today’s global economy.
With Urba360, you no longer have to multiply tools or navigate between several platforms. Financial analysis, credit rating, compliance monitoring: everything is gathered in one place. You save time, you reduce risks, you make better decisions.
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