Anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing

Money laundering is the process through which proceeds of crime, and their true origin and ownership, are changed so that they appear legitimate (see Practice Note: Money laundering—key information for businesses).

Terrorist financing is, in general terms, the provision or collection of funds from legitimate or illegitimate sources with the intention or in the knowledge that they should be used to carry out any act of terrorism, whether or not those funds are in fact used for that purpose. For more information, see Practice Note: Counter-terrorist financing—key information for businesses.

Proliferation financing is the act of providing funds or financial services for use, in whole or in part, in connection with the possession or use of, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons, in contravention of a relevant financial sanctions obligation. For more information, see Practice Note: Counter-proliferation financing—CPF—the basics.

It is important that corporate transactions are not used to further a criminal purpose. Anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and counter-proliferation financing (CPF) measures are designed to prevent transactions becoming channels for illegal proceeds.