Due diligence
Transaction consulting – Due diligence
Due diligence literally means “due diligence”. The term Due Diligence came into common use in 1933 with the adoption of the Securities Act in the United States. The term itself, however, means a comprehensive and multi-faceted analysis of the company, which is sometimes commissioned not only by potential investors or buyers, but also by the existing owners. Presentation of the results of such an analysis by the seller may be an incentive for potential buyers, who will be assured of the security of the transaction. Most often, however, it is ordered by an investor who wants to check whether the investment will prove profitable and will not incur a loss due to the unfavorable allocation of funds.
What are the types of due diligence?
The scope of the enterprise condition analysis includes several basic groups. These include:
- Legal – by determining ownership and shareholding issues, as well as possible litigation and labor disputes;
- Financial – by determining the financial health of the company, which consists of analysis of financial statements, Key Performance Indicators as well as estimation of potential profit.
- Tax – by determining the verification of tax settlements, detecting possible tax arrears or other irregularities;
- Business – by assessing the market, the company’s operations, effectiveness of activities, development prospects in the period preceding the study and development opportunities in the near future. In addition to the above, there are also other, no less important, such as HR, IT or real estate due diligence. A wide range of research builds an image of the company that can encourage or effectively scare away from starting cooperation or potential acquisition.
Due diligence – is it worth conducting such an analysis and who does it?
The results of the due diligence analysis provide a full-scale picture of the state of the enterprise along with an assessment of its development opportunities. The report itself may cover only one aspect of its functioning, some or all of them. It is worth mentioning that the report is never prepared by one authorized person, but most often by a group of specialists in various fields, such as lawyers, tax advisors, property appraisers or marketing or human resources specialists. In view of the high standards expected by entities commissioning such an analysis, only a wider group of experts can meet the due diligence requirements. Not only the property or legal status of the enterprise is assessed, but also its development prospects, the valuation of the whole and individual components and the profitability of already concluded commercial contracts. The latter may turn out to be crucial, as unfavorable contracts with insolvent contractors have a significant impact on the company’s financial liquidity.
Why will the due diligence service provided by BTLA help your company?
Thanks to due diligence (legal audit), it is possible to obtain comprehensive information on the legal situation and risks related to the object of purchase. The key aspect of risk mitigation is the knowledge of potential problems and risks, obtaining such information makes it possible to make an informed decision about entering into a transaction, significantly changes the position in the transaction and supports negotiations. BTLA’s assistance in conducting Due Diligence may significantly reduce the risk of a transaction in which the company is involved.
What makes our due diligence service different?
- Efficiency and effective execution – we have successfully conducted many due diligence analyses, including highly complex cases requiring high competence, the due diligence we have performed has repeatedly significantly reduced the transaction risk of our clients.
- Comprehensive solutions – we offer comprehensive solutions, from a general check of connections through a detailed analysis of all documents, financial condition with final conclusions and description of key risks. Full analysis allows us to meet the requirements of our clients and provide a key source of information to support the decision-making process.
- Expertise in the area of due diligence – BTLA’s team includes tax advisors, attorneys and legal counselors, and mulit disciplinary experts who are distinguished by their comprehensive experience and knowledge of the work methodology needed to perform valuable due diligence.
- Individual approach to the client – the process of conducting due diligence sometimes requires the cooperation of many parties, being aware of the specificity of the process, we focus on flexibility of work, thanks to which the process runs more efficiently and our clients have up-to-date information on key issues.
Our specialties
Scope of Due Diligence Services
Due diligence consulting is specifically:
Review of legal documentation
This is the first step in the due diligence process. Professionals review the company’s legal documents, including contracts, licenses, patents, employment contracts, and other legal documents, to understand the company’s structure and identify potential legal issues.
Assessment of the tax situation
As part of this activity, experts review the company’s tax returns, looking for any tax arrears or other irregularities.
HR and IT assessment
Specialists review the company’s IT systems, its human resources management strategy, employment conditions, payroll policy and other aspects related to human resources and information technology.
Financial analysis
The second step is to review and analyze the company’s financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow. This analysis includes an assessment of the company’s financial health, an analysis of key performance indicators and an estimation of the potential profit.
Business analysis
This activity includes an assessment of the market in which the company operates, the effectiveness of its activities and development prospects. This analysis may also include an assessment of the company’s strategy, business model and competitive position.
Preparation of due diligence report
After carrying out the above analyses, specialists prepare a detailed report that contains their results, conclusions and recommendations. This report is the basis for making decisions about a potential transaction.