What if the ideal industrial partner, presented as a technological jewel, actually hides a sprawling network where military shadows and international gray areas intertwine?
In October 2025, the management of an international group entrusts SKAN1 with a seemingly simple mission: to validate the profile of a future strategic partner in Southeast Asia. But in Asia, no due diligence is ever ordinary—and this one would reveal an ecosystem far more tortuous than anticipated.
First disturbing discovery: Company A is just a front. Behind it looms Company B, a public conglomerate with sprawling ramifications, operating under the direct supervision of the Thai Ministry of Defense. The investigations become more complicated when we identify Leader A: an active colonel, formally classified as a PEP (i.e., a politically exposed person).
But this is just the beginning. By unraveling the thread, our investigators discover an international network of subsidiaries deployed in very high-risk areas. Some operate in sanctioned jurisdictions, others in politically unstable countries where the boundaries between legitimate business and sensitive operations become blurred. A perfect device to discreetly bypass export control regimes.
The most worrying element emerges during the analysis of flows: equipment produced by Company A passes to entities involved in controversial surveillance programs. Without proven direct involvement, indirect exposure may nevertheless seem massive. Our client could find themselves at the heart of a corruption scandal or violation of international sanctions.
Thanks to our SKAN-4X framework, we were able to map out this entire opaque ecosystem. The report enabled the client to understand that they were not negotiating with a simple industrialist, but with an arm of the state, with dual-use activities and sensitive geopolitical ramifications.
Armed with these revelations, our client radically restructured their approach. Negotiations continued, but were governed by strict compliance, anti-corruption, and full traceability clauses. The client demanded specific contractual guarantees and implemented enhanced monitoring. Without giving up on the strategic opportunity, it avoided the pitfall of a partnership that could have compromised its reputation and exposed it to devastating consequences.