Why this matters
Most cross-border problems we see at Thornfield could have been avoided by twenty hours of structured due diligence at the right moment. The supplier that quoted aggressively turned out to be a trading shell with no factory. The "joint-venture partner" had a litigation history hidden behind two layers of holding companies. The investment target's headline revenue was real, but the customer concentration was a single relationship that ended a quarter after closing.
Due diligence on Chinese counterparties is doable. It needs the right combination of public-records work, Chinese-language search, on-the-ground physical verification, structured interviews, and operating judgement. We do all of it, and we deliver findings in plain English with a clear go / no-go / conditional recommendation.
Engagement types
Supplier verification
For manufacturing clients considering or already buying from a Chinese supplier. Covers entity verification, factory existence and capacity, quality system reality, key customer concentration, environmental and regulatory compliance, and operational sustainability.
Partner assessment
For brands and businesses entering a distribution, licensing or joint-venture arrangement with a Chinese counterparty. Covers beneficial-ownership and group-structure mapping, financial reality testing, related-party transaction review, key-person background, and conflict-of-interest screening.
Investment-target evaluation
For investment firms, family offices and corporate development teams evaluating a Chinese target — equity or asset. Pre-LOI desktop review, full pre-signing diligence, and confirmatory diligence between signing and closing. Coordinated with legal, financial and technical advisors.
What is included
- Public-records check — business licence, tax registration, social-credit code, equity-chain mapping via Chinese corporate registries
- Beneficial-ownership tracing — including offshore layers in HK, BVI, Cayman where relevant
- Litigation and enforcement review — court records, judgment enforcement, restricted-persons lists, regulatory penalty history
- Physical site visit — on-the-ground inspection of factory or office, photographs, equipment census, workforce visible
- Structured interviews — management, key customers, suppliers and competitors as engagement permits
- Media and sentiment review — Chinese-language media, industry forums, employee review platforms
- Written report — typically 15 to 40 pages with clear conclusions, traceable evidence, and a directional recommendation
Turnaround and scope
A standard supplier verification runs three to five weeks. A partner assessment for a joint-venture arrangement runs six to ten weeks. An investment-target diligence is project-scoped against transaction timeline. Expedited turnaround is available for time-critical decisions.