In business transactions like mergers and acquisitions (M&A), due diligence is an essential process in which a buyer completely understands the seller. This is done through a series of questions and documents that the buyer requests from the seller. While a thorough M&A due diligence review can help a potential purchaser validate certain facts about the target company however, there are many challenges to conducting this check.

Due diligence can be costly and time-consuming. It could take weeks, or even months, depending on the nature of a transaction. Due imprima anbieter diligence can also involve a wide range of third-party specialists, which ranges from CPA firms that conduct due diligence on financial transactions, to industry consultants who review the business model and future opportunities as well as environmental and labor lawyers. These experts will spend a large amount of time on site at the main headquarters going through prepared data and information.

For sellers it is crucial to prepare for a due diligence process and know the subtleties. Consider your negotiation strategy, and prepare the necessary materials to study. It is also important to be emotionally detached from the negotiation process so that you can negotiate with a clear mind.

Brett Dearing, an M&A expert, gives insight into the importance of due diligence in the M&A procedure. In this fourth installment of PitchBook’s Mergers and Acquisitions 101 series, Dearing explains how M&A due diligence can help identify the risks, validate valuations and confirm that the investment requirements of the company being targeted meet.