1. More companies are going to be late in filing their SEC returns and will get delisted as a process. They will trade on pink sheets (Over the Counter) (look for the symbol followed by pk). OTC markets are notoriously not liquid. If there was a way to provide great liquidity to an alternate market there is money to be made – since most of the companies have products, good revenues, great customers etc.
2. Small independent audit firms: Most companies with backdating need an independent auditor to supplement their existing auditors. The smaller audit firms could make good short-term money.
3. Legal firms: Same as auditors, except they are the first ones to get a call when the SEC comes calling.
4. Records and Content Management: Compliance issues make up most of the backdating scandal from a reporting standpoint. There is money in email discovery management, financial reporting, and business intelligence tools.
5. Offshore staff enhancement: Some auditors and experts charge up to $ 400 / hour for their services. Ripe opportunity to help them augment grunt work to offshore firms. If you are an offshore firm, buy or partner with a firm based in America.
6. Buy the stock: If you truly believe the company, its prospects, future potential, and market, then buy it on the dip. But only after you have done all other due diligence.
7. Invest in Executive Search and Placement Firms: They are going to be looking forward to a lot of business replacing a bunch of executives who will either be fired or replaced because of options backdating.
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