June 2014

As part of the first annual Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management International (GSCFMI) co-hosted by NACM and FCIB and conducted on the campus of Dartmouth College Gene M. Smith and Harry “Skip” Brandon of Smith Brandon International, Inc. taught a course entitled International Investigations & Best Practices by Region.

The course taught the basics of investigations, due diligence, strategic planning, and risk management to a class of credit professionals. Topics covered included: how to conduct due diligence, how investigations differ in the United States and abroad, risk management, and an introduction to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and how companies can comply with this legislation.

The course used examples from and focused on the “BRIC” countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Course materials were based on Smith and Brandon International’s decades of experience conducting investigations, drawing on best practices in due diligence investigations aimed at risk avoidance.

As an added bonus, class participants were provided with disclosure forms, adaptable to the needs of each student’s company, as one example of current “best practices.” Disclosure forms can be used to collect relevant information from buyers, suppliers, and other critical business associates as the first step in a due diligence investigation.