FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Recently extradited Venezuelan businessman Walid Makled profiled on World-Check since 2008 World-Check clients

had early warning of the risk posed by Walid Makled. London, 18 May 2011 World-Check clients have again benefited from the early identification of Walid Makled the Venezuelan businessman at the centre of an extradition battle between the US and Venezuela, which this week, saw him extradited to Venezuela from Colombia. The alleged drug lord was first profiled by World-Check in 2008, prior to his inclusion on US sanctions lists. The early inclusion provided World-Check customers the necessary knowledge to avoid unwittingly engaging in commercial activities with a high risk individual. As specialists in finding hidden risk, World-Check had profiled Walid Makled, also known as The Turk or The Arab, 8 months before he was added to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, emphasising the need for organisations to ensure they are looking beyond the existing sanctions lists if they want to remain compliant and protect against reputational damage. Commenting on the news Dan Peak, CEO of World-Check said: A case such as this is a timely reminder of the importance of screening both primary names and known aliases, to ensure that your company is compliant with US sanctions is not as easy as just ensuring you do not start any new ventures with listed individuals. He added: As the world authority in uncovering and eliminating risk, our database screening service and custom due diligence reports provide organisations with an invaluable early warning system. About World-Check Trusted by more than 5 400 institutions in over 150 countries, including 49 of the worlds top 50 banks, WorldCheck is the world authority on regulatory and reputational risk identification and remediation. World-Checks global database of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and heightened risk individuals and entities, due diligence reports, passport verification and country risk assessment tools provide the means to address the full spectrum of risk across all markets and industries. Represented across five continents, WorldChecks international research team monitors emerging risks in more than 60 languages, covering over 240 countries and territories worldwide. www.world-check.com

For more information contact: Clare Warren Tel: +44 207 647 8500 Mobile: +44 07540 875141 cwarren@world-check.com