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World-Check[1] is a database of politically exposed persons (PEPs) and 'heightened risk' individuals and organizations. World Check formed part of the Thomson Reuters Risk Management Solutions suite before being transferred to Refinitiv after a merger deal with The Blackstone Group in October 2018.[2]
World-Check was founded in 2000 by David Leppan and registered in London. Its database was powered by Uptime ITechnology, founded by Nikolaus Kimla. [3] In 2008, World-Check launched Country-Check, an index which ranks over 240 countries and territories worldwide in terms of risk.[citation needed]
In 2009, World-Check acquired IntegraScreen.[4] In 2011, World-Check received independent assurance under the International Standard on Assurance Engagements ISAE 3000.[citation needed] Also in 2011, Thomson Reuters acquired World-Check for their governance, risk management, and compliance unit. In October 2018, Thomson Reuters closed a deal with The Blackstone Group and, as a result of this merger, World-Check is owned by Refinitiv.[2]
World-Check is used by several financial firms, such as Lloyd's of London since 2008,[5] Maecenas,[when?] and SAI Global[when?] as a risk management partner.[6]
In 2017, World-Check admitted that the Palestine Solidarity Campaign should never have been placed on their database at all, and specifically, should not have been associated with terrorism.[7] World-Check agreed to pay compensation and apologize to Finsbury Park Mosque.[8]
In 2017, Quilliam founder Maajid Nawaz was found to have been listed as a terrorist in World-Check following an investigation by Vice.[9] Thomson Reuters subsequently removed his name from the list, apologized, and paid an undisclosed amount in damages as part of the settlement following the threat of a lawsuit by Nawaz.[10][11]
