Buying a business is a calculated risk. What may seem attractive from the outside may look entirely different once an acquirer takes full control. That’s why due diligence is such an important step in the M&A process. Done right, it helps acquirers minimize risk and gives them confidence that they can actually create sustainable value through the acquisition.
Due diligence has become dramatically more complex over the last two decades. In some cases, acquirers will have to cope with as many as ten different work streams tied to due diligence in the course of evaluating a single deal. Typical steps of commercial due diligence include:
There are six steps to a structured M&A process. The first three steps help identify promising companies that can bring value to the corporate portfolio. The next three steps, explained below, take the buyer through the due diligence process, negotiation, and pre-close integration planning.