Latest news with #dueDiligence


Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar's MoCI warns against unlicensed investment activities
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) on Wednesday issued a warning to all investors, citizens, and residents in Qatar regarding the risks of engaging in any investment activities, signing contracts, or transferring funds to companies or entities claiming to offer investment opportunities without first verifying their legal status and commercial registrations. The Ministry clarified that any unlicensed party is not legally authorized to carry out fundraising activities or provide investment services to the public, and that engaging with such entities exposes investors to significant legal and financial risks. The Ministry further stressed the importance of conducting thorough due diligence to verify the legitimacy and licensing status of any individual or entity prior to entering into any agreements or transactions. For inquiries or to verify the legal status of investment providers, the public is encouraged to contact the Ministry through its official channels. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Reform did ‘zero' checks on suspended MP, admits Farage
Reform UK did 'zero' due diligence on James McMurdock before he was elected as an MP, Nigel Farage has admitted. The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock left the party on Saturday amid allegations surrounding his 'business propriety' during the pandemic. The Reform party leader said that there had been no due diligence conducted prior to Mr McMurdock's selection, but that the party had since 'professionalised' its vetting process. He told LBC: 'There was no due diligence on him at all. Zero. I mean, I inherited this. 'I said after the general election last year that I'd put proper professional vetting in place. I've done that. 'We fielded more candidates than anybody on May 1. There was hardly any arguments at all.' He added: 'I can't verify the future of everybody going ahead, but have we now professionalised the party to stop this sort of thing ever happening again? Yes.' Mr Farage also refused to rule out Mr McMurdock's return to the party pending the outcome of any party investigations into the claims. The Sunday Times alleged that Mr McMudock borrowed £70,000 for two businesses under the Government's Bounce Back loan scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic. It reported that Jam Financial Limited, one of Mr McMurdock's firms, allegedly received £50,000 in 2020, the largest loan available for medium-sized businesses with an annual turnover of more than £200,000. Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, another of Mr McMurdock's businesses, allegedly took out a £20,000 loan in 2020, which would have required an annual turnover of more than £100,000. Jam Financial Limited allegedly had no employees and negligible assets until the pandemic, and Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited was also dormant until Jan 31 2020. Mr McMurdock said in a statement on X that 'all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations'. He added that he asked for the whip to be suspended as a 'precautionary measure' and 'for the protection of Reform UK'. Statement from James McMurdock. Thursday evening I received a phone call from a journalist who followed an extremely aggressive and clumsy line of questioning where he confused assets, profit, and turnover. He confirmed that the phone call was off the record and I advised him… — James McMurdock MP (@JamesReform) July 5, 2025 Mr McMurdock unexpectedly won his Essex seat at last year's election, securing a majority of just 98 over Labour. Shortly after his win, reports emerged about a historic conviction for assaulting a former girlfriend. Earlier on Monday, Mr Farage warned Reform councillors that they must behave with 'integrity'. He told Kent county council members that 'behaving with integrity is a responsibility upon all of you' but said that this did not mean they should be 'stuffed shirts'. The local authority is the largest that Mr Farage's party controls, after Reform made sweeping gains at the local elections in May. Zia Yusuf was brought into Reform last summer as the party chairman, who would be responsible for the professionalisation of the party. Last month, Mr Yusuf dramatically resigned from the party, announcing on X: 'I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.' He returned to the party just two days later, saying that his decision to quit had been 'born of exhaustion'. Mr McMurdock is the second MP to have left the party since last year's election. The party expelled Rupert Lowe in March over allegations of workplace bullying and threats against its chairman, which he has strongly denied.


Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
IP Due Diligence: The Make-Or-Break Factor In Modern M&A
Dr. Keegan Caldwell is the founder and global managing partner of Caldwell. As innovation cycles accelerate and technology convergence increases, intellectual property has become a powerful driver of major corporate acquisitions. For example, when Johnson & Johnson acquired Shockwave Medical for $13.1 billion in 2024, the deal's success hinged on extensive intellectual property due diligence spanning a portfolio of significant patents. Chief among them: Shockwave Medical's innovative intravascular lithotripsy technology—a strategic fit, as J&J has been seeking to expand its cardiovascular portfolio into high-growth segments. For companies engaging in mergers, acquisitions or strategic partnerships, understanding the intricacies of IP due diligence is essential for protecting value and avoiding costly oversights. A recent analysis of 40,000 M&A deals over the past 40 years revealed that between 70% and 75% failed due to inadequate pre-deal analysis and misaligned objectives. Add increased regulatory scrutiny, which has delayed many major global acquisitions, and patent litigation costs—estimations in the U.S. are around $3.5 million per patent litigated—and we reach a crucial reality: Thorough IP due diligence can determine not just the success of a transaction but your company's future market position. The Complexities Of IP Due Diligence Our modern business environment is interconnected, which means thorough due diligence requires a comprehensive analysis of ownership chains, licensing agreements and potential infringement risks across multiple jurisdictions. Without a detailed and multifaceted approach, companies risk failing to discover IP complications ranging from gaps in patent coverage to undisclosed third-party rights that could impact commercialization plans. All this complexity multiplies when dealing with software and digital innovations, where IP rights often overlap. Take artificial intelligence, which has impacted nearly every sector—aerospace and defense, the consumer industry, pharmaceuticals, finance and more. To put this in perspective, Bank of America recently announced that its patent portfolio now includes nearly 1,100 AI and machine learning patents and pending applications (half of which have been granted), marking a 94% increase in just two years. With technology like AI, a single product might incorporate hundreds of patents, copyrights and trade secrets, making thorough due diligence increasingly challenging but that much more essential. This rapid innovation cycle means companies must scrutinize not just existing IP rights but also pending applications and potential future claims that could affect product development and market access. The types of transactions requiring rigorous IP due diligence have also expanded beyond traditional M&A. Joint ventures, technology licensing agreements, and even routine supplier contracts now demand careful IP examination. For example, though Tesla opened its patent portfolio for "good faith" use by others, innovators seeking to implement Tesla's technology still need extensive due diligence to understand the implications and limitations of this open-source access. Impact On Valuations And Deal Dynamics Recent estimates demonstrate that the global value of intangible assets like IP rights has grown rapidly in recent years, exceeding $62 trillion to date. And importantly, intangible assets now comprise 90% of the value of companies in the S&P 500. Thus, the impact of IP due diligence findings on deal valuations can be dramatic. When Cisco acquired Splunk for $28 billion last year, a compelling reason for Cisco's interest was Splunk's sophisticated data analytics technology, capable of expanding and enhancing Cisco's existing security infrastructure. This strategic alignment of IP portfolios helps reposition Cisco to compete more effectively in the enterprise security market, particularly against Microsoft, its key competitor. As we've seen time and time again, these types of technological synergies, discovered during thorough IP due diligence, often justify significant acquisition premiums. Equally as dramatic is potential derailment, and Foxconn's 2016 acquisition of Sharp comes to mind. This massive deal experienced months of turbulence following the discovery of previously undisclosed liabilities at Sharp. As a result, Foxconn—the world's top electronics contract manufacturer—slashed its acquisition offer by almost $900 million. Strategic Approaches To IP Due Diligence Given that the typical application remains pending for 36 months or more, overlooking IP issues can jeopardize years of R&D investment and market opportunities. That's why successful companies typically evaluate IP portfolios using a multi-factor framework that considers market coverage, enforceability and competitive positioning. Keep in mind that this analysis becomes particularly crucial in cross-border transactions, where IP rights and enforcement mechanisms vary significantly by jurisdiction. A strategic approach to IP due diligence starts with assembling the right team: legal counsel specializing in IP law, technical experts who understand the underlying innovations and financial analysts who can quantify findings. Essential components of effective IP due diligence include a thorough ownership analysis, assessment of IP validity and enforceability and evaluation of potential infringement risks. Overall, a robust due diligence checklist should cover: • Patent and trademark searches across relevant jurisdictions • Analysis of licensing agreements and technology transfer contracts • Review of IP-related litigation history • Assessment of trade secret protection measures • Examination of research and development documentation Companies should also verify that all inventors have properly assigned their rights and that all maintenance fees and renewals are current, as oversights in these areas can greatly and adversely affect technology transactions. Remember that the average IP due diligence process for major transactions takes several months, though this can vary depending on the technologies involved, availability of data and other external factors. Regardless, for optimal results, companies should begin IP due diligence early in the transaction process—ideally before signing letters of intent. Ultimately, this proactive positioning allows for a thorough investigation and can even provide leverage in negotiations. Value Through Strategic IP Due Diligence According to PWC, 60% of CEOs plan to make at least one acquisition in the next three years. This, along with technology acceleration and shortened innovation cycles, highlights the importance of thorough IP due diligence. And while we're seeing this across sectors, the stakes are particularly high in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology, where IP assets often represent the majority of a company's value. Success in modern business transactions requires treating IP due diligence as a strategic imperative. Companies that approach IP due diligence systematically, engage specialized expertise early, and maintain robust documentation will be better positioned to navigate complex transactions and emerge successfully. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?


Argaam
26-06-2025
- Business
- Argaam
Rasan terminates MoU for Holoul Financing acquisition
Rasan Information Technology Co. terminated its non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Holoul Financing for Financial Technology, a limited liability company. The decision to end the agreement was made after both parties reviewed preliminary findings from technical due diligence, Rasan said in a statement to Tadawul. It added that the costs of due diligence advisors for the technical, financial, and legal areas amounted to SAR 270,000. According to Argaam data, Rasan had signed the MoU in February to acquire a 55% stake in Holoul Financing.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sapling Financial Consultants Celebrates the Opening of Its First U.S. Office in Atlanta
Delivering expert due diligence, data analytics and office of the CFO services, strengthened through strategic hires Atlanta, Georgia and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2025) - Sapling Financial Consultants Inc., a Toronto-based boutique financial consulting firm, has opened its first U.S. satellite office in Atlanta, Georgia. Having established its client footprint in Atlanta in 2021, Sapling serves private equity firms, investment banks, search funds, independent sponsors and mid-market companies. In a year marked by sluggish M&A activity and economic friction between Canada and the U.S., Sapling is investing in deeper, long-term relationships. The Atlanta office marks a strategic milestone, as over 70% of Sapling's clients are from the U.S. Strategic hires drive growthHelping drive this expansion is Thomas Quinn, Business Development Associate1, a sharp connector and strategic lead based in Atlanta. Quinn is known for turning smart connections into growth, bringing a relationship-first mindset and a strong track record to Sapling. Back in Toronto, the hiring of Stefan Mioc, MBA, CBV, adds depth to the team with his expertise in M&A, valuations and capital strategy. Mioc joins as a Senior Engagement Manager, bringing over five years of experience from Doane Grant Thornton, where he was an Associate Director in the Transactions group advising mid-market clients across various industries. As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities in the U.S., Atlanta is an ideal location for Sapling's U.S. operations. Its status as a major air hub and a strong presence of Fortune 500 companies are part of its appeal. The city also boasts a growing talent pool in sectors such as finance, technology, and analytics, further positioning Sapling for growth in this market. "For five years, we have been actively engaging in the thriving American Southeast market and opening our first U.S. office is a natural next step in our firm's growth. Atlanta stands out for its connectivity, talent and business climate. As demand grows across private equity and mid-market sectors, this move brings us closer to clients," says Rob Hong, co-founder and CEO of Sapling Financial Consultants. "With a highly skilled and dedicated team, we work seamlessly to provide our clients with tailored solutions to make informed financial decisions. This is more important than ever in the current economic climate." Having been an active member of Atlanta's business community for several years, Sapling has proudly sponsored the ACG M&A South conference since 2020. The firm has developed a strong appreciation for the city and its dynamic investment landscape. Sapling will offer its high-quality services to clients navigating complex financial decisions, providing tailored solutions through its core offerings. Since 2015, Sapling has carved out a niche by filling a market gap for mid-market private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as boutique investment banks and entrepreneurs, helping businesses make better decisions. For interview requests, contact: saplingfinancial@ About Sapling Financial ConsultantsFounded in 2015 by Rob Hong and Andreea Lupascu in Toronto, Sapling Financial Consultants is a financial modelling, due diligence and data analytics firm that combines technological innovation with financial comprehension. Sapling was named one of Canada's Top Growing Companies by The Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine in 2024 and awarded a 2023 CanadianSME Small Business Awards for Best Professional Services. In 2025, the firm received Ragan's Workplace Wellness Award in the category Learning and Development - Wellness Initiatives, recognizing its commitment to employee well-being and growth. Committed to excellence in their craft and empowering mid-sized businesses, the firm champions affordable, high-calibre financial and analytical solutions, providing the tools for sustained growth and strategic advantage in a dynamic market landscape. For more information about Sapling Financial Consultants, visit MEDIA CONTACTLina Zhao Matte PRsaplingfinancial@ (416) 515-7667 x702 -30- 1 U.S. employees of Sapling are employed by a sister company To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio