In making important commercial decisions, senior management frequently have to rely upon facts, data and opinions presented by a third party, be it in respect of a potential acquisition or merger, a competitor etc. Then, at a later date, often when it is too late, it transpires the information given is not as factual as claimed. This is a particular area where validating such information, through SIP's professional intelligence service, can prove to be extremely beneficial to a company. Intelligence gathering is the art of investigation and research. It has to be dealt with discreetly and efficiently so that the information required is produced quickly and accurately without alerting the investigated party.