Asset tracing services in Spain: three solutions
Sagrada Due Diligence helps corporate and private clients to identify assets held in Spain by companies and individuals.
We produce thorough and well-researched asset trace reports that help our clients better understand a prospective business partner’s asset position, and, in contentious issues, assess whether pursuing a claim is financially worthwhile.
Broadly, our clients typically request three types of asset trace services:
Solution 1: Public records and OSINT
Within 24-48 hours we can produce a detailed asset trace report outlining an individual’s asset position and income flows in Spain, including property ownership, company assets, and vehicles.
This information is obtained from Spain’s three key public registries:
• Property Registry: Confirms whether the debtor owns property, lists the property addresses, and notes any encumbrances.
• Business Registry: Contains company information, including tangible and intangible assets, annual accounts, and ownership details.
• Vehicle Registry: Links vehicles to owners and often to residential addresses.
Each asset trace report is supplemented by social media analysis and can provide valuable context and additional details about a subject’s asset position and lifestyle. For example:
• LinkedIn may reveal current employment and company addresses.
• Facebook and Instagram posts might indicate travel patterns, check-ins, or properties connected to the individual.
• Industry directories and chamber of commerce websites can confirm professional memberships or company affiliations.
Solution 2: Site visits
In some cases, it is necessary to undertake a site visit to obtain an additional layer of verification. Site visits can result in confirmation that a residential property is occupied. In the case of companies, a site visit can be required to verify commercial activity is taking place or assess the conditions of commercial property.
We conduct site visits discreetly and in compliance with Spanish law. There is no direct engagement with the subject. Instead, the aim is to observe and document information that can corroborate registry findings.
The deliverables include a written report, supported by photographs, that describes the property, its apparent use, and any notable details. This helps clients establish whether an asset is actively linked to the subject and may inform decisions about enforcement or recovery actions.
Solution 3: Working with counsel
We are able to work directly with our clients’ counsel as part of a broader enforcement strategy. This means going beyond the identification of assets and income flows, but also uncovering pressure points that can expedite settlement, such as:
• Third-party obligations: Identifying customers, suppliers, or business partners who owe payments to the debtor, which may be attached or intercepted.
• Cash flow vulnerabilities: Disrupting or redirecting revenue streams to encourage settlement.
• Reputational leverage: Informing banks, rating agencies, or other stakeholders about the debtor’s unpaid obligations.
• Public exposure: In some cases, the prospect of publicity can incentivise a debtor to negotiate.
Whichever solution is required, we are confident that we can promptly and economically identify whether a debtor is the owner of any recoverable or seizable assets in Spain or whether a prospective business partner has supplied accurate information about their asset position.