M&A transaction due diligence overview

Legal

Mergers and acquisitions are complex and involve a strategy that includes many teams and multiple steps of critical importance. Use this template to help ensure consistency, have immediate visibility into a critical transaction's due diligence phase, and ensure that you follow every step and have full accountability. This is designed to be used by corporate and business development teams, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. Feel free to add or edit the steps and reuse with your team or company.
Mergers and acquisitions are complex and involve a strategy that includes many teams and multiple steps of critical importance. Use this template to help ensure consistency, have immediate visibility into a critical transaction's due diligence phase, and ensure that you follow every step and have full accountability. This is designed to be used by corporate and business development teams, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. Feel free to add or edit the steps and reuse with your team or company.

M&A transaction due diligence overview

Strategic options

  • Introduction - read first
  • Market dynamics analysis
  • High-level trends analysis
  • Business portfolio analysis
  • Target identification

Commercial due diligence

  • Introduction - read first
  • Market + customer attractiveness analysis
  • Industry structure + dynamics analysis
  • Competitive position analysis
  • Distribution channel dynamics analysis
  • Business plan review
  • Risks and opportunities analysis

Operational due diligence

  • Introduction - read first
  • Cost structures + drivers diagnosis
  • Operational improvement potential review
  • Cost synergies assessment
  • Integration capabilities analysis
  • Opportunities identification
  • Risk analysis

Financial due diligence

  • Introduction - read first
  • Financial statements review
  • Management accounts review
  • Integration capabilities analysis
  • Valuation analysis
  • Deal financing

Legal due diligence

  • Introduction - read first
  • Target liabilities and potential risks analysis
  • Competition authority implication analysis
  • Transaction mechanics, execution, and closing classification

Fact-based assessment of value creation potential