World-Check is a database of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and heightened risk individuals and organizations, used around the world to help to identify and manage financial, regulatory and reputational risk. 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. The creation of the database was in response to legislation aimed at reducing the incidence of financial crimes. To begin with, World-Check's intelligence was used by banks and financial institutions as a comprehensive solution for assessing, managing and remediating risk. However, as legislation has become increasingly complex and its reach has become increasingly global, the demand for such intelligence has grown beyond the financial sector to include organisations from all sectors. Research coverage World-Check's research team monitors emerging risks in more than 60 languages, covering over 240 countries and territories worldwide. All information used is in the public domain and research analysts profile individuals and entities using open-source research methodology (OSINT) while adhering to strict protocol such as that laid down by the Data Protection Act (UK). A team of analysts correlates sanction and embargo lists from around the world, including lists such as OFAC, UK HMT, EU, OSFI, FATF and the Australian DFAT. Regulatory and enforcement lists are monitored as well as lists of debarred and banned parties. Specific areas of interest, such as terrorism, organised crime and the Middle East, are covered by specialist teams. History World-Check was founded in 2000 by David Leppan and Laura Aboli and registered in London, to address the risk mitigation requirements of the banking community. It provides information to help businesses comply with regulations and identify potential financial crime. World-Check serves the know your customer (KYC) and third-party screening needs of large firms, and helps businesses comply with anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism legislation. In 2008, World-Check launched Country-Check, an index which ranks over 240 countries and territories worldwide in terms of risk. A statistical algorithm is used to aggregate various information sources across political, financial and criminal factors which quantifies risk attached to customers and transactions according to their country of origin. Based on statistics, Country-Check provides intelligence for informed decision-making, useful for mergers and acquisitions, security of supply chain, cross border expansion and exploration, and production. In 2009, World-Check acquired IntegraScreen, a provider of enhanced due diligence reporting services. IntegraScreen