Case Studies
The following case studies are illustrative scenarios based on common engagement patterns across executive due diligence, strategic intelligence advisory, and digital footprint investigations. They reflect the type of work SAS Intel conducts and the outcomes our methodology produces.
— Family Office
— PE Acquisition
— Global Brand
— PE Due Diligence
The "Hidden Past"
A $2.4B AUM private equity firm required emergency deep-dive vetting on a target founder — 12 days before LOI execution — after a LinkedIn inconsistency flagged a 26-month gap in professional history.
A previously undisclosed dissolved entity with county civil records revealing a confidential investor dispute settlement — invisible to standard background checks, recoverable through investigative intelligence.
The acquisition closed on modified terms with enhanced representations, warranties, and escrow provisions. The General Counsel cited the engagement as the highest-ROI due diligence expense in the project budget.
Case Study
Logistics Technology Sector
"Seeing Around Corners"
A $1.1B AUM family office with no formal intelligence function engaged SAS Intel for a bespoke Fractional CSIO retainer after quarters of unexpected geopolitical valuation pressure in Latin American and European real estate markets.
Early polling signals and political shift indicators identifying a credible challenger planning to restrict foreign ownership — flagged six months before the election, before the risk was priced into local markets.
The family office executed a structured exit from two major properties at favorable pre-election valuations, preserving an estimated $14M that would have been lost to post-election market compression. The retainer was subsequently expanded to additional portfolio markets.
Case Study
Multi-Generational Family Office
The "Celebrity Athlete"
A global consumer brand preparing a flagship multi-year endorsement partnership required a full digital history audit on a rising professional athlete — covering their entire online presence from age 13 forward before an eight-figure contract was executed.
14 posts containing high-risk language the athlete believed were permanently deleted — 8 of which remained accessible via public web archive tools available to investigative journalists and activists.
The partnership closed with a calibrated morality clause and specific warranties informed by the audit findings. By proactively addressing historical content before the contract executed, the brand avoided a post-launch crisis that would have far exceeded the cost of the engagement.
Case Study
Global Consumer Brands Sector