Due diligence is an in-depth investigation of the business’s inventory contract, financials, and financials as well as intellectual property. It also involves an evaluation of any legal issues that could impact the acquisition.
Due Diligence is a crucial part of any M&A transaction, and it helps investors assess the real worth of a company. Most of the time, due diligence involves reviewing confidential business documents and requires signing of non-disclosure and non-compete agreements. It is essential that these procedures are carried out in a thorough manner to avoid any potential issues that could negatively impact the deal, or cause it to be canceled.
Investors should also check for any concerns about intellectual property, including patents litigation, licensing, and disputes. In addition, they must take a look at the people aspect of the company and know its culture, such as severance packages, golden parachutes and stock purchase options.
The $9 billion Theranos collapse is a stark warning to conduct thorough due diligence prior to investing. Although many of the red flags were obvious, this shouldn’t be reason enough to avoid this process. Due diligence can be a lengthy and time-consuming job that requires the coordination of multiple stakeholders and the expertise of experts in various fields. It is crucial to determine the objectives of your due diligence which will help you determine the resources needed and the information you can gain from it. In some instances, this could mean involving outside experts like attorneys, insurance agents or financial or technology consultants.