Our due diligence investigation services are designed to assess the background and reputation of a potential business partner(s) or key player(s) in a venture before entering into a substantial financial relationship.
We assist venture capital firms, private equity firms, investment banks, wealthy individual investors and financial institutions understand the risks before entering into a joint venture, merger, acquisition or a significant financial or investment transaction.
We utilize ethical and lawful information-gathering methods, using technological sources, open-source and proprietary databases and information developed through human intelligence to develop information on the reputations of individuals and companies to protect our clients interests.
Featured Posts
Tips to Avoid an Investment Fraud or Ponzi Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has recently initiated a program to educate both first-time investors and seasoned professionals on the identification of various red flags of investment fraud to conduct a “do-it-yourself” due diligence investigation. While the SEC outlines several important ways to avoid falling victim to an investment advisor fraud, (e.g. “pump and […]
“Red Flags” You Should Have Seen – A Look Back at Mouli Cohen
September 2011 Update: Samuel “Mouli” Cohen Trial Set Hiring a professional private investigator to conduct a comprehensive due diligence investigation on Samuel “Mouli” Cohen would have identified multiple “red flags” that could have saved investors millions of dollars. On August 9, 2010, federal prosecutors in California unsealed a criminal indictment accusing local businessman Samuel “Mouli” Cohen […]
How To Spot a Resume Fraud, Fake CV or Biography Lies
There are certain things that you see in a resume, CV or biography that immediately raise some warning signs. Last week, while everyone was “surprised” to see that Alex Rodriguez has been accused of taking human growth hormones (again!), I was struck by the biography of the doctor who (allegedly) supplied him with the drugs: […]
How to Avoid a Hedge Fund Fraud – Lessons from Bayou Fund
CNBC’s American Greed (which is a great show, in case you haven’t seen it) recently broadcast a piece on Samuel Israel III, the hedge fund manager who ran the Bayou Fund until his hedge fund fraud caught up with him in 2005. Israel was charged with losing more than $400 million from investors in the […]
What is a Due Diligence Investigation
“Due diligence investigation” is a phrase that varies in meaning among different business organizations and industries. From the perspective of a venture capitalist or a private equity investment manager, it’s about assessing the business model, conducting market research and talking to the market. For an accountant, it may be analyzing the books and records. From […]
The Moneyball Approach to Due Diligence Investigations
This weekend, many moviegoers and avid baseball fans around the country will be taking some time away from the grind of daily life to see Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill star in the film “Moneyball,” based on the 2003 Michael Lewis best seller that catapulted the Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane into the most […]