Corporate Intelligence- do you think I'll be able to trademark the term COINT? is here to stay. Although firms like Aegis and TIS are military suppliers, and many other firms boast a roster of ex-SF and/or intel types, for the most part the field is much more, ahem, corporate than people imagine. The bread and butter work is made up of background checks on potential partner companies and/or key hires.

Other scenarios include gathering intel in an acquision or tender situation, where the private intel company provides services that the usual consultant mix of lawyers, accountants, technical advisors etc cannot deliver- ie somewhat more privileged information.

Much of what is required by a client is open-source that just needs to be uncovered, however information gathering may extend to basic surveillance and questioning of third parties. There have even been publicly reported cases of such firms running surveillance and counter-surveillance ops for sporting teams given the capital involved in sport these days.

Michael Smith has put together an informative summary on some of the main players today here:
http://www.michaelsmithwriter.com/pd..._companies.pdf