A private equity firm engaged Palmes Advisory for pre-transactional due diligence, seeking information on a shipping company and the wealthy but lesser-known Gulf family that owned it.

Focusing on possible reputational damage and sources of wealth, we utilised its political and commercial networks within the state and with neighbouring trade partners to conduct source enquiry with 6 individuals close to the family or associates commercially engaged with it. Based on corroboration from these sources and OSINT, we identified one minor hazard for reputational damage. This allowed the PE firm to proceed with the transaction after establishing mitigation procedures.