I spoke to General B. O. Lewis of the Boston Ordnance, by long distance this morning, and he was very much interested in seeing that we receive the work which we want on the Trench Knife M-3.

On January 29, 1943, Edell wrote to Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

Do not waste any time because I am sure we can get the business either from the Small War Plants or the Boston Ordnance Department, both of whom have some business to issue on the item.

On April 17, 1943, Edell wrote to Colonial, in part, as follows:

I have conferred with the procurement offices here at Wright Field about the hunting knife and have left one with them inclosed in the sheath.

On June 8, 1943, Colonial wrote to Edell, in part, as follows:

If you ever have the opportunity to quote on this knife, you can offer it at the above1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*191 price.

On October 19, 1943, Edell wrote to Army Ordnance, in part, as follows:

Mr. Antonio Paolantonio and myself dropped into your office last Friday for the purpose of showing you personally, a sample of the M-3 Knife which we manufacture, as per your specifications.

On December 21, 1943, Edell wrote to Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

please be advised that I have succeeded in securing for you the following contract:

50,000 knives at $ .68 each

Contract No. NX-44755

28 T.C. 601">*614 On January 17, 1944, Edell wrote to the Jersey City Quartermaster Depot, on behalf of Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

Confirming my telephone conversation with you, please be advised that we would greatly appreciate receiving invitations from you to bid on Hunting Knives and Combat Utility Knives. We are making these at present for the Navy and Marine Corps. We can also manufacture the M-3 Army Ordnance Knife and certain kinds of Scout Knives.

On January 17, 1944, Edell wrote to Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

Please permit me to call your attention to the fact that there is a considerable amount of government business to be secured on two, three, and four bladed scout knives. The1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*192 Jersey City Quartermaster and the Post Exchange both requested them from me within the last few days.

On November 9, 1944, Edell wrote to the Navy Department, on behalf of Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

We would quote you on the basis of large procurement, that is, an initial procurement of approximately 50,000 of these knives as follows:

On July 19, 1945, Edell wrote to the U. S. Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia, on behalf of Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

I would greatly appreciate hearing from you as to whether you have found it possible to increase the present award of 100,000 Jiant Jack Knives, or the introduction of a new order.

On August 7, 1945, Edell wrote to the U. S. Marine Corps, Washington, D. C., on behalf of Colonial Knife, in part, as follows:

As per conference with our Mr. Edell we are sending to you under separate cover via parcel post 12 of our Jiant Jack Knives.

On June 13, 1944, Edell wrote to a Government contractor, in an effort to obtain a subcontract for one of the partnership's clients, in part, as follows:

The original contracts for the Hoods and Bags were secured by me and manufactured during 1943 by Supply Manufacturing Company1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*193 and the groundwork for the Sleeping Bag invitation was arranged by me during 1943.

In soliciting and procuring Government contracts for a company, Edell proceeded, in general, as follows: He went through the company's plant; he obtained a list of its machinery and equipment; he took the list to various Government procurement departments or depots; he obtained the opinion of technical personnel in a department as to what products to be purchased by the department could be manufactured with the client's equipment, and what additional equipment the client would have to acquire in order to manufacture such products; he conveyed this information to the client; he obtained specifications and samples of products which Government procurement offices wanted to purchase and brought these back to the client.

28 T.C. 601">*615 Edell obtained information for the companies, from Government procurement offices, as to contracts on which invitations to bid were going to be issued, and he requested that the companies be invited to bid on such contracts. If the Government agency required that a company's plant be inspected and approved before it was invited to bid, Edell arranged for such inspection and approval. 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*194 He obtained information from the Government, and from other manufacturers, as to prices at which contracts had been previously awarded, and also cost and technical data, for the use of the companies in preparing their bids. He often also assisted and advised in the preparation of bids. He contacted Government procurement offices to stimulate interest in his principals' products, and he secured promises of the award of contracts.

A considerable portion of Edell's time was spent in servicing contracts given to his principals by various Government agencies. Edell arranged for executives and employees of his principals to study the operations of other companies producing the same items; he obtained priorities for materials and labor; he located sources of materials and machinery required by his principals; and he expedited payments by the Government to his principals.

Neither Harry nor Lewis Edell was a bona fide executive officer, partner, or full-time employee of any of the eight corporations.

The partnership contributed to the efficiency of the eight companies by obtaining contracts and materials which kept their equipment and labor operating at full capacity.

Petitioner assumed1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*195 no substantial risks. Even though it was never certain that any particular contract which Edell sought to obtain for one of his principals would be awarded, when contracts were awarded, the principals were bound to complete the contracts, and petitioner then received return for its costs and efforts in obtaining the contracts. Petitioner made no significant inventive or developmental contribution to the war effort.

Petitioner made a significant contribution to the war effort in obtaining technical assistance and information for its clients.

Petitioner's business was one of performing services; it was not a manufacturing business.

The parties have entered into stipulations from which there is agreement upon the following facts:

The partnership received commissions from nonrenegotiable business aggregating $ 56,478.53 which is attributable to the years 1943-1945.

For each of the years 1943, 1944, and 1945, the partnership's expenses amounted to $ 14,000 per year, including the salary paid to Edell's wife, or $ 42,000 for the 3 years.

28 T.C. 601">*616 The partnership received net income, after expenses, of $ 35,000, after 1945 which was for commissions attributable to services performed by1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*196 the partnership during the years 1943-1945, inclusive, for the eight corporations involved.

Exclusive of commissions received by the partnership which are not subject to renegotiation, the net income, after expenses, of the partnership for, or attributable to, the 3 years 1943-1945, amounted to the total net sum of $ 300,000. That is to say, the partnership received during the 3-year period from various ones of the eight corporations involved, commissions in the net amount of $ 300,000.

The partnership received from various ones of the eight corporations involved in each of the years 1943-1945, the net amount set forth below, and these net amounts are involved in this case:

The respondent now claims that of the total net profit of the partnership for each of the years 1943-1945, $ 20,000 for each year constituted reasonable compensation for the services rendered to its clients, and the following net profits were excessive: $ 36,000 for 1943; $ 84,000 for 1944; and $ 120,000 for 1945.

The stipulated fact are found as stipulated; the stipulations of facts are incorporated herein1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*197 by this reference.

Reasonable compensation for the partnership's services is $ 30,000 for 1943; $ 50,000 for 1944; and $ 70,000 for 1945. Petitioner's profits for 1943, 1944, and 1945 were excessive to the extent of $ 26,000, $ 54,000, and $ 70,000, respectively.

OPINION.

The first issue presents the problem whether any of the Edell partnership's earnings for each of the 3 years, 1943-1945, inclusive, is subject to renegotiation under the provisions of section 403 (a) (5) (B) of the Renegotiation Act of 1942, as amended. ²1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*199 If 28 T.C. 601">*617 that issue is decided in the affirmative, another question must be decided, the amount in each year of the partnership's excessive profits, if any, under the provisions of section 403 (a) (4) (A). It is now well established that in a Tax Court proceeding for the redetermination of excessive profits the petitioner has the burden of proving that the respondent's determination is erroneous "with respect to any amount up to that originally determined as excessive, and that the respondent has the burden in respect to any additional amounts proposed for the first time in his answer." Nathan Cohen v. Secretary of War, 7 T.C. 1002, 1011;1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*198 Bass v. Stimson, 20 T.C. 428, 434. The questions to be decided under the first issue, relating to the contracts or arrangements made by the petitioner with various corporations, involve the provisions of section 403 (a) (5) (B). The petitioner has the burden of proving that the respondent erred in its determination that section 403 (a) (5) (B) applies to all such contracts or arrangements. Under the second issue, the respondent has the burden of proof in respect to an additional amount for 1943 which it claimed for the first time at the trial constituted excessive profits, namely, $ 10,265. ³ Otherwise, the petitioner has the burden of proving that the respondent's original determination of the amount of excessive profits for 1943, $ 25,735, is incorrect, and that the respondent's determinations of amounts of excessive profits for 1944 and 1945 are erroneous. It is noted, further, that if the second issue is reached, the question must relate to each of the years 1943-1945, inclusive, separately, rather than to the 3-year period taken as a whole.

Under subsection (c) (1) of section 403 of the Renegotiation Act of 1942, as amended, ⁴1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*201 it is provided, in part, unless there is request by a contractor or subcontractor to the proper renegotiation authority (the 28 T.C. 601">*618 War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, in this case) the power to renegotiate shall be exercised "with respect to the aggregate of the amounts received or accrued during the fiscal year * * * by a contractor or subcontractor under contracts with the Departments and subcontracts." Section 403 (a) (8) defines fiscal year to mean the taxable year of the contractor or subcontractor1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*200 under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. Petitioner's fiscal year, for purposes of the Renegotiation Act of 1942, as amended, is a calendar year. Petitioner did not request the Board to exercise its powers separately with respect to amounts received under any one or more separate contracts so as, for example, to determine whether excessive profits were realized during the 3-year period, 1943-1945, inclusive. The Board exercised its powers with respect to the aggregate amounts received by petitioner in each of the years 1943-1945, inclusive, and issued three separate orders, one for each year. This Court must, therefore, in this case, consider the question of whether petitioner realized any excessive profits on the basis of the aggregate amounts received by petitioner in each of the years 1943, 1944, and 1945. Sec. 403 (e) (1). ⁵

Issue 1. This issue presents a question of fact as to whether Harry Edell solicited or procured Government contracts or subcontracts for each of eight corporations from which the Edell partnership received commissions during the years 1943-1945, inclusive. Respondent determined that the partnership's profits during each of those years are subject to renegotiation, and its argument in support of its determination is that the arrangements with each of the eight corporations, from which the partnership's profits were derived, constituted "subcontracts" as defined in section 403 (a) (5) (B). Petitioner contends that none of the eight arrangements constituted "subcontracts" as so defined, and its principal argument in support of 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*202 this contention is that it did not solicit or procure Government contracts or subcontracts for any of the eight corporations.

In George M. Wolff et al. v. Macauley, 8 T.C. 146, and in Leon Fine, 9 T.C. 600, we held that the petitioners were not subcontractors merely because their compensation was based or computed upon the amount of Government contracts or subcontracts received by their principals, since the petitioners did not solicit or procure any of such Government contracts or subcontracts. In the Wolff case, we said (p. 152):

the language of the statute aptly applies to manufacturers' agents and sales engineers who procure Government contracts for their principals and whose compensation is contingent upon the business they are able to obtain for the principals or fixed by the amount of such business.

28 T.C. 601">*619 We quoted this language in the Fine case, at page 608. In the instant case, petitioner was paid fixed percentages, varying from 2 1/2 per cent to 5 per cent of the amounts paid by the Government to each of its principals under Government contracts. The Wolff and Fine cases make it1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*203 clear that this is not, in itself, enough to make the arrangements subcontracts under section 403 (a) (5) (B). It is necessary, also, that the petitioner should have solicited or procured the Government contracts received by its principals.

Petitioner argues that the services performed by the partnership are sufficiently similar to the services performed by the petitioners in the Wolff case and the petitioner in the Fine case, to require the same conclusion as we reached in those cases, namely, that the petitioner did not solicit or procure Government contracts, and that, therefore, it was not a subcontractor whose profits are subject to renegotiation.

In French v. War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, 13 T.C. 276, we concluded that the services performed by French constituted soliciting or procuring Government contracts, and we therefore held that he was a subcontractor whose profits are subject to renegotiation. Respondent argues that the services performed by the petitioner are sufficiently similar to those performed by French (in the French case) to require the same conclusion.

The facts have been set forth at length in our Findings1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*204 of Fact. Nevertheless, we believe a brief summary of the facts will be useful.

Petitioner had eight clients during the 3 years 1943-1945. It had one contract, or arrangement, with each of its clients. The parties have stipulated that the services performed by the petitioner for each of its eight clients and that the terms of the arrangement it had with each one were substantially the same. The evidence is general and fragmentary; it does not show in detail as to each of the eight corporations the precise services which were performed by petitioner. However, under the stipulation of the parties, if it is established that petitioner solicited or procured a Government contract for one of the eight corporations, it follows that we may find and conclude that it solicited or procured a Government contract for each of the eight corporations.

The burden of proof is upon petitioner and if it has failed to show what it did for each of its eight clients, there is failure of proof.

The record includes letter memoranda of four of the eight agreements which the petitioner had with its clients. If the question were to be decided solely upon the basis of these letter memoranda of agreement, 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*205 there would be considerable strength in petitioner's contentions. The agreements which were entered into by Edell on behalf of the petitioner provided that Edell's duties would include carrying on various kinds of research, making analyses, obtaining 28 T.C. 601">*620 information, and serving in an advisory capacity. The draftsman did not, in every instance, include a reference to Edell's obtaining Government contracts. But the question in this case turns upon whether, in fact, each contract, or arrangement, of petitioner with a principal embodied an agreement that Edell would solicit, attempt to procure, or procure a contract, or contracts, with the Government for a principal. Such agreements may have been oral. Section 403 (a) (5) (B) is not limited to written contracts or arrangements.

Decision of the issue in this case cannot be made to depend solely upon the terms of the few examples of letter memoranda agreements between petitioner and some of the corporations which have been placed in evidence by the petitioner. If the issue were to be so limited, it would become an easy matter to avoid the intent of the Renegotiation Act by the simple device of writing agreements which contain1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*206 no specific provision coming within section 403 (a) (5) (B). Congress did not intend to permit renegotiation to be so easily escaped. Section 403 (a) (5) (B) (ii) is applicable to services "performed" as well as to services "to be performed." The question here is whether, in fact, Edell agreed to solicit and procure Government contracts for each of the eight corporations.

From the entire record, it must be concluded that Edell agreed and was expected to solicit and procure Government contracts. Before contracting with Edell, each of the eight companies desired to obtain Government contracts, but executives of the companies did not know how to proceed to obtain them. This is shown both by the testimony of those executives of companies who were called as witnesses by petitioner, and by the testimony of Edell. The inference is unavoidable that the main reason for the companies' engaging Edell was that they expected him to obtain Government contracts for them. Furthermore, respondent introduced in evidence a file of copies of correspondence between Edell and the various clients of petitioner (Exhibit B) which comprises 290 letters. All of this correspondence has been carefully 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*207 examined and examples thereof have been included in the Findings of Fact. These quotations from the correspondence involve each one of the eight clients which are involved. They are fairly typical of much that is covered by the correspondence. The quoted letters show clearly that Edell solicited and procured Government contracts for petitioner's clients. Another example is as follows: Edell learned from the Government authorities at Wright Field that a contract for the manufacture of the "Knutson Vest" had been awarded to the Breslee Manufacturing Co. On September 20, 1944, he wrote to Breslee soliciting a subcontract for Colonial to produce a component part of the Knutson Vest, a giant jackknife, and subsequently a subcontract was awarded by Breslee to Colonial Knife for production of the Jiant Jack Knife.

28 T.C. 601">*621 As has been set forth in the Findings of Fact, the evidence shows clearly that Harry Edell, the principal member of the partnership, was authorized to and did represent each of the partnership's eight clients in dealings with various Government agencies, and that he performed the following services: Finding out and advising each of the eight companies about opportunities1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*208 for Government contracts so as to insure issuance to each of the companies of invitations to bid on Government contracts; assisting each of the companies to prepare and submit bids on Government contracts; negotiating the terms of Government contracts for each of the companies; and contacting Government procurement offices so as to stimulate their interest in the products of each of the companies. These are substantially the same services which were performed by the petitioner in French v. War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, supra, where we held that the petitioner was a subcontractor. Upon the whole record, our conclusion is that petitioner solicited and procured Government contracts or subcontracts for each of the eight corporations. The partnership undoubtedly rendered other services which were of value both to the Government and to its principals in servicing Government contracts after they were awarded to the principals, but since petitioner also solicited and procured these Government contracts for its principals, and since it agreed to do so, the contracts, or arrangements, under which it performed the services of soliciting and procuring1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*209 Government contracts were subcontracts within the meaning of section 403 (a) (5) (B) (ii).

Petitioner argues, in effect, that in order for it to be a subcontractor within the meaning of section 403 (a) (5) (B), as that section has been construed in George M. Wolff et al. v. Macauley, supra, and Leon Fine, supra, it is necessary that it should have procured all of the Government business out of which it was paid a percentage. Petitioner errs in this contention. In order to constitute each of the eight arrangements as subcontracts, it is necessary only that petitioner should have procured some part of the Government business received by each of the eight corporations, of which it was paid a percentage. This is the rule set forth in French v. War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, supra, at 280. In other words, if the Edell partnership procured at least one Government contract for each of the eight corporations, then all of the profits derived by the partnership from commissions on Government contracts received by each of the eight corporations is subject to renegotiation, even 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*210 if part of such commissions was paid on Government contracts which the partnership did not procure.

Petitioner had the burden of proof; it was obliged to establish that, with respect to each arrangement with a client, it did not solicit or 28 T.C. 601">*622 procure any Government contracts. This, petitioner has failed to do. On the contrary, the evidence shows affirmatively that petitioner did solicit and procure some Government contracts or subcontracts for each of the partnership's eight clients.

The Wolff and Fine cases, relied upon by petitioner, are readily distinguishable. In neither of those cases did the petitioners solicit or procure any Government contracts or subcontracts for their principals; their compensation was based or contingent upon the amount of the Government contracts or subcontracts procured by their principals, and not by them. In the instant case, the Edell partnership's compensation was based, or was contingent, at least in part, upon the amount of Government contracts or subcontracts procured by the partnership for each of its principals.

In the Wolff case, the petitioners were architects, and their duties were to prepare drawings of installations1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*211 to be built for the Kaiser Co., and to issue invitations to bid on contracts for construction of such installations. In the Fine case, the petitioner's duties were to obtain and correlate technical information from airplane manufacturers to which the Raymond De-Icer Co. sold de-icing equipment, and to coordinate production schedules. The services performed by Edell were in no way similar; he clearly solicited and procured Government contracts or subcontracts.

Petitioner argues, also, that since it did not become entitled to any compensation until after one of the eight corporations had successfully completed a Government contract and had been paid by the Government, its compensation was not computed or contingent upon the amount of Government contracts it obtained for its principals. We are unable to follow petitioner's reasoning. Before Government contracts were successfully completed by the eight corporations and the corporations were paid by the Government, petitioner first procured the Government contracts, and it was ultimately paid a percentage of such Government contracts. Therefore, the amount of the partnership's compensation was, in the first instance, contingent1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*212 upon its obtaining Government contracts for its principals, and it is immaterial that it had to wait for actual payment of its compensation until after the Government contract had been successfully completed and the principal paid by the Government, or even that its compensation might also be secondarily contingent upon such successful completion and payment.

Under arrangements between petitioner and each of eight corporations, the compensation received by petitioner was contingent or computed, at least in part, upon the amount of Government contracts which petitioner procured for each of the eight corporations, during the years 1943-1945, inclusive. It follows that petitioner was a subcontractor 28 T.C. 601">*623 within the meaning of section 403 (a) (5) (B) (i), and that in each year it received income which is subject to renegotiation.

Issue 2. The next question is what amount, if any, of the profits derived by petitioner under the arrangements was excessive. The parties have stipulated that these net profits, before any allowance by the respondent of a reasonable amount for each year, amounted to $ 56,000, $ 104,000, and $ 140,000 for 1943, 1944, and 1945, respectively. Respondent1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*213 contends that for each year $ 20,000 represents a reasonable profit. Petitioner claims that no part of its net profits for any year was excessive.

In their stipulation as to the amount of net profits derived from renegotiable business in each of the years 1943-1945, inclusive, the parties have allocated a net amount received in 1946 to the years involved, under section 403 (h). ⁶ Cf. Rosner v. W. C. P. A. B., 17 T.C. 445, 458-461.

1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*214 There is no question to be decided relating to the allowance of a reasonable amount for the expenses of the partnership in each year. Respondent has allowed $ 14,000 for each year, and this allowance has been accepted by petitioner. Cf. Greaves v. War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, 10 T.C. 886, 891-893.

Petitioner contends that the amount of $ 300,000, the total amount of net profits for the 3 years involved, does not constitute excessive profits. In effect, petitioner asks the Court to consider the question under this issue as one which involves a determination of the total amount of excessive profits for 3 years considered together, rather than a determination of the amount of excessive profits for each of 3 years. At the outset, therefore, it is necessary to point out that the question must be considered with respect to each year, rather than with respect to one period of 3 years, under section 403 (c) (1).

In support of its contention that no part of its profits for any of the years involved was excessive, petitioner argues that the risks incurred and the capital used in its business were large because it had to defray its own expenses1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*215 and it was not paid until after one of its clients had made delivery to the Government and had been paid by the Government; that the character of the services rendered by the 28 T.C. 601">*624 partners, as well as the time and effort expended by them, requires a high rate of compensation; and that the partnership should be credited with time and effort expended by Harry Edell in 1942 and in 1946, in work affecting the earnings of the partnership in 1943, 1944, and 1945, the years here involved.

Respondent, in support of its contention that all of the profits which exceed $ 20,000 per year are excessive, argues that petitioner acted simply as a conveyor of information from Government agencies to each of its eight clients.

Section 403 (a) (4) (A) ⁷ lists the factors to be taken into consideration in determining excessive profits. Since petitioner was not a manufacturer, some of the factors listed in section 403 (a) (4) (A) obviously are not relevant. Consideration has been given to the factors which are applicable to petitioner's business.

1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*216 We do not think that petitioner incurred any substantial risks in its business. Although petitioner had to wait for its compensation until after the Government had paid its client, in the case of each Government contract it solicited or procured, the record establishes that the partnership enjoyed a high degree of certainty that it would ultimately receive commissions sufficient to cover all of its expenses and provide adequate compensation for the time of the partners, as well as a substantial profit.

The only capital which was used in petitioner's business is the amount of $ 5,000 loaned to the partnership by Lewis Edell. Petitioner has not offered any evidence to show that any other capital was used in the business. The partnership agreement provided for prompt repayment of this $ 5,000 to Lewis, as well as for division of all partnership profits. Petitioner has not shown that any partnership profits were retained in the business and used as capital. However, it is clear that some small capital was necessary to the conduct 28 T.C. 601">*625 of petitioner's business, and our determination of the amount of excessive profits in each year includes an allowance for a reasonable return 1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*217 on such capital as is estimated to have been used in the business in each year.

The principal element in our determination of the amount of profits in each year which was not excessive, is the value of the personal services rendered by the partners. This includes primarily the services of Harry Edell. Lewis Edell performed only negligible services for the partnership. He was employed full time, during the years involved, as a sales agent for several sportswear manufacturers, and he devoted little time to the work of the partnership. On the other hand, Harry Edell devoted long hours each day to the work of the partnership, he worked on weekends, and he never took a vacation during the years involved.

Petitioner introduced the testimony of two management consultants, as expert witnesses, upon the value of the services performed by the Edell partnership. We have considered this testimony. We have considered, also, the fact that part of the profits of petitioner during 1943-1945, inclusive, was the result of work done by Harry Edell in 1942. Cf. Armstrong v. War Contracts Price Adjustment Board, 15 T.C. 625, 636-637, affirmed per curiam 194 F.2d 875,1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*218 certiorari denied 343 U.S. 967">343 U.S. 967.

Although the services performed by Edell were not of a technical nature, and very little, if any, knowledge of engineering was required in their performance, the record establishes that the services performed had substantial value to the Government and to each of the partnership's eight clients. Executives of each of the eight companies lacked the ability to convert to war production and to fulfill Government requirements without the kind of assistance provided by Edell. By ascertaining what products each of the companies could produce for the Government with their existing plants and equipment, by obtaining technical and cost information for them, and by locating sources of supplies and machinery they required, Edell aided each of the companies to convert to war production, and to produce many goods necessary to the war effort. Thus, he made some contribution to the war effort.

Upon the whole record, we think that the amounts which the respondent determined to be excessive profits for each year, are too high. After a careful consideration of all of the evidence, it is found and concluded that the petitioner derived excessive1957 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 162">*219 profits from renegotiable income in the amounts of $ 26,000, $ 54,000, and $ 70,000 for the years 1943, 1944, and 1945, respectively.

An order will be issued in accordance herewith.