Financial Due Diligence

Corporate acquisitions/mergers/taking over have become a part of business strategy to grow rapidly and widely.
The objective is to increase the local / global market share. Incentives given under the Income Tax Act for
mergers and acquisitions have also given fillip to such activity.
A key element in such an exercise, whether it involves the acquisitions of another entity, unit or assets of an
entity, is the performance of a “due diligence” review. Due Diligence may also required to be performed in cases
of venture capital financing, lending, leveraged buyouts, public offerings, disinvestment, corporatisation, etc.
Sometimes, in a restructuring exercise, while the unit may remain within a group, it may pass from under the
charge of one management team to that of another team. This situation also gives rise to the need for a due
diligence review.
Due diligence is a review of the enterprise, unit or assets, as the case may be, to be acquired.
Due Diligence : Sub-Classification
Due Diligence can be sub-classified into discipline-wise exercises. It may be mentioned here that these sub-
classification should not be seen as totally mutually exclusive to each other. If considered mutually exclusive, it
might result into a less-than-effective evaluation of the entity. The sub-classification of due diligence exercise
could be as follows:

 Commercial or Operational Due Diligence

 Financial Due Diligence

 Tax Due Diligence

 Information System Due Diligence

 Legal Due Diligence

 Environmental Due Diligence

 Personnel Due Diligence

Of all the sub-classification of due diligence exercises, Financial Due Diligence has the highest significance
with regard to a corporate restructuring exercise. The reason is quite simple to understand. For an investor, the
final decision should necessarily be in the form of financial terms and information. It, therefore, becomes
imperative that the results of all other kinds (sub-classification) of due diligence should be translated in
monetary terms.
The financial due diligence is generally done by professional accountants. Professional accountants are also
hired to conduct tax due diligence because of their knowledge and expertise in the area of taxation laws. The
acquiring enterprise engages other professionals to conduct other aspects of the over all due diligence review
exercise. For example, a lawyer or a Company Secretary may be engaged to carry out legal due diligence, an
personnel professional may be engaged to conduct personnel due diligence, an engineer and a marketing
professional may be engaged for conduct of operational due diligence. However, the implications of all the due
diligence exercises should be ascertained by the professional accountants engaged to carry out financial due
diligence review. Accordingly, accountants need to review the reports of the due diligence exercises performed
for other aspects of business to evaluate the financial implications.
Timing of due diligence review exercise
There are no rigid rules for determination of the stage of acquisition at which due diligence review is conducted.
The timing of the review is very much a situation-specific issue. It depends upon a range of factors that
beginning from the nature of the transaction (inter restructuring, acquisition), the relationship between the
parties involved (related parties, first time negotiator), the regulatory frame work (for example, in a takeover of
a listed company, the acquirer may not be able to perform such a review, given the time, constraints and as the
target is under no obligation to allow one). The list is never ending. Its is at this point at which significant
amount of professional fees, etc. are incurred for the services rendered by the various professionals attached
with the process of acquisition. It has been mentioned that due diligence reviews can be sub-classified into
discipline-wise exercises. Various kinds of due diligence reviews are undertaken depending upon the nature of
target’s operations.
Objectives of Financial Due Diligence
There are certain inherent risks that increase significantly without due diligence. Where two parties are involved
in a deal, representations are made to transferee about the entity, unit or assets being transferred. Completing a
transaction without adequate information, or half-truths, can lead to a significant financial loss. Basically, the
performance of a due diligence review seeks to ensure that the transferee, at a later stage, does not face
unpleasant surprises when the acquisition is over. The due diligence seeks to provide assurance to the transferee
that the information available to him presents a true and fair view of the situation based on which negotiation is
done.
Broadly, the review process would provide comfort on, inter alia, the following:

 True and fair view presented by the financial statements

 Systems and controls established are followed

 Uniformity of accounting policies

 Availability of records

 Quality of record keeping

 Existence of fixed assets, and ownership of those assets

 Realisable value of business

 Undisclosed liabilities

 Possible exposure to future liabilities

 Contingent liabilities, their nature and quantum of commitments made by the entity

 Compliance with various laws and regulations applicable to the entity

The initial price and other decisions are taken on the basis of net worth as well as trend of profitability of the
target company, with an assumption that all contingent liabilities that may impact the future of the business have
been recorded. The principal objective of financial due diligence, therefore, is usually to look behind the viel of
initial information provided by the company and to assess the benefits and costs of the proposed
acquisition/merger by inquiring into all relevant aspects of the past, present and future of the business to be
acquired/merged with.
STATEMENT AND INFORMATION TO BE CALLED FOR FROM TARGET PRIOR TO STARTING
THE DUE DILIGENCE
Corporate Documents
1. Memorandum and Articles of Association
2. Board Minutes copies for last five years
3. Financial Statements for say five years with complete schedules
4. Tax accounts (if different) with Tax audit reports/returns
5. Latest financial statements duly audited
6. Quarterly published results for last say eight quarters
7. Engineering Reports like report on environmental problems
8. Market studies/reports on company products
9. Details of patents, trade marks, and copyrights
10. Details of Licenses
11. Copies of all contracts
 Supply and sales agreements

 Employment and consulting agreements

 Leases

 License and franchise agreements

 Loan agreements/Debenture trust deeds

 Shareholders agreements

 Agreements with labour and management

 Pension and profit sharing plans

 ESOPs / stock purchase plans /sweat equity agreements

 Welfare benefit plans

 Personnel handbook or policy manual

 Deferred compensation plans

 Insurance policies

 Agreements giving right to acquire /use company assets

 Tenancy rights/lease agreements

 Sales and product warranty agreements

 Subsidies like S.T subsidy, Central subsidy

12. Details of MODVAT/CENVAT credit on capital goods
13. The transferability and possibility of continuance of the above
14. Acquisition agreements
15. Title documents to real estate property
16. Real property and asset identification with ownership/ lease details
17. Survey maps/reports
18. Mortgages
19. Guarantees and letters of comfort
20. Latest annual return
Key Information from Management
1. Analysis of Company’s past operating performance and projected change in operations
2. Segment wise profitability statements
3. Details of ownership of company’s securities
4. Potential defaults under existing contracts or potential litigation
5. All material correspondence with Govt. agencies
6. Pending laws or regulation that may effect the company’s business
7. Product backlogs, purchasing, inventory and pricing policies
8. Pending negotiation for the purchase or disposition of assets or liens
9. All related party transaction
10. SWOT analysis of the target
11. Projected financial statements with assumption (optimistic, pessimistic and most probable)
Management
1. Organization chart
2. Key personnel and their detailed bio-data
3. Internal audit reports
4. Management letters issued by auditors
5. Personnel policies
6. Agreements with labour and staff unions
7. Policy for appraisal of executives, setting of KRA goals etc.
8. Training
9. Public relations
10. Safety
Finance
1. Details of all loans (long and short term) and charges
2. Assets taken on lease/HP
3. Overdues of loans and reschedulement, if any
4. Reserve Bank of India’s approvals for any Foreign Currency Loans
Legal and Statutory
1. All appeals related to income tax, sales tax, excise, customs, etc.
2. Details of pending assessments related to above
3. Details of legal / professional expenses for last five years
4. Statutory liabilities if any overdue
5. Details of all contingent liabilities and all legal cases by or against the company
6. Exports and other obligation and commitments
7. Disputed taxes and duties and payment under protest
Key Information from Outside Sources
1. Market studies
2. Product test data
3. Confirmation of customer satisfaction from major customers
4. Outstanding capitalization from the company’s stock transfer agent
5. Absence of defaults from the principal lenders and lessors
6. Absence of liens or judgement via searches of public records
7. Patent and trademark searches for possible infringing products or names
8. Certificate of good standing
9. Title search reports
10. Valuation reports, if any
11. Credit reports from ICRA, Dun & Bradstreet etc.
CHECK LIST FOR DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW
(This list is illustrative only. It might require a modification keeping in view the facts and circumstances of each
case)
Check list for other things to be done in due diligence review
History of target

 Company no.:

 Permanent A/C no.:

 Date of incorporation :

 Date of commencement of business

 Brief history of business

 Current operations and principal products

 Approval for sales:

• Board

• Articles

• Member u/s 293(1)(a) of Companies Act

• FI/Banks

• FEMA (if non resident)

• Anti trust law if any

 Changes in directors/auditors/CEO etc. in recent past and reasons

 Locational advantages

 No. of emplyees (management, staff and labour)

 JV partner

 Mission and vision

Capital structure

 Capital structure: authorised, issued, subscribed, paid up capital- type wise agree with member’s register
and confirmation from registrar.

 Bonus, rights issue history issue of ADR, GDR etc.

 Group company details (including associates, subsidiaries).

 Restriction on share transfers, lien on shares, lock in period, etc.

Software

 Software/ERP used

 Computer controls
 Adequate no. of licenses in place?
Financial management

 Financial and internal controls

 Budgetary control (effective?)

 Delegated powers

 Derivatives and options

 MIS

 (MIS v accounts)

 Forex management

 Break even point

 Dividend policy
Accounting records

 Accounting policies/practices-check changes if any in last five years

Balance sheet

 List of assets, location etc. (area, floor space etc)

 Immovable property documents scrutiny-free and leasehold –cross check with Govt. taxes etc.-check for
surplus land etc. for future expansion

 Capitlization guidelines

 Unused/unsuable/surplus assets

 Revaluation reserve accounting

 Major capital additions of last five years

 Pre-operative expenditure capitalized and if in accordance with ICAI guidance note

 Analysis of investments especially group investments

 Assets with impairment in values

 Is any asset immediately to be subjected to any major repairs etc.

 Any asset acquired purely for tax planning?

 List of inventories and policies

 Slow/non moving/unsuable inventories ; inventories not in present manufacturing program

 Whether cut-off proper?

 Confirmation for third party stocks

 Valuation of inventories proper?

 Aged analysis of receivables, advances etc. assessment of bad and doubtful debts/advances

 Dues from Govt./Govt. bodies

 Confirmation

 List of deposits and recoverability

 Creditors, liabilities

 Provision for warranties, sales returns etc.

 Provision for premium payable on redemption or debentures etc.

 Wealth tax, property tax etc. liability

 Confirmation

 Reconciliation and confirmation of bank/ loan accounts

 Cash confirmation

 Compliance with S 58 A

 Deferred revenue expenditure

 Review of muster rolls, salary registers, PF, ESI etc.

 Deferred taxes
Physical verification

 Physical verification of :

• Investments

• Stocks

• Fixed assets

Profit and loss Account

 P&L analysis and comparison with previous period and budget

 Income recognition policy

 Extra ordinary and non recurring expenditure and income

 Analysis of other income

 Depreciation and amotization policies

 Consumption of key raw materials etc. actuals v norms

 Inter company transactions within group /inter division transactions

 Transactions immediately before decision to sell

 US GAAP v Indian GAAP reco, if any

 Ratio analysis

 Benchmarking /inter firm comparison

Marketing and selling

 Market segments and market shares

 Competitor data; prices; market shares; volumes; R&D etc.

 New market opportunities

 Channels of distribution

 Evaluation of distributors
 Advertisement policy

 Selling arrangements, sale promotion; sole selling agencies and company law compliance

 Export pricing

 Govt. controls in sales area

 Sales analysis by region, product, sales channels, types of products, customers etc

 Credit policy

 Brand value, position

 Import parity price, price break up at each stage of sale etc.

 Order backlog, LD etc

 Reliance on few customers

 Product lists, catalogues etc

Manufacturing /operations

 Manufacturing process

 Technology absorption and foreign tech know how

 Capacity and utilization (any dispute with Govt.?)

 Balancing required for debottlenecking

 Factory lay out

 Power back up

 Patterns, moulds, dies

 Is technology latest?

 Pollution and environment

 Spares /support availability

 R&D (what is in pipeline?)

 Quality (ISO, SEI-CMM etc)

 Awards
Purchasing

 Availability of key raw materials

 Purchase efficiency

 Imports and time required

 Import duties; MODVAT/CENVAT available

 Forward commitments, hedging etc

 Govt. controls

 Reliance on one supplier for key raw materials

 Provisional customs duty assessments, if any for imports

 Inter company purchases within the group
Interviews within key executives
Gauge style of management, commitment, employee morale, freedom in work, key problems and issues, SWOT
of company and SW of individual
Search
Search in office of the registrar, sub registrar of assurances, ROC, Civil courts, Revenue courts Municipal
offices etc
General

 Lease for premises etc. are current?

 Any expected changes in legislation affecting the industry/unit?

 Is the price asked too good to be true?

 IPR related issues

 Long range outlook for industry

Post acquisition aspects

 What is likely to change after the proposed merger/ take over?

 Resultant goodwill if any, and its impact on buyer’s income statement

 Impact of merger/ acquisition from the angle of :

1. Cultural issues
2. Accounting policies and methods
3. Audit
4. Planning and control
5. Treasury
6. Organization
7. Personal policies and practices
8. Production
9. Possible surplus labour
10. Possible surplus office space and admin. Overhead
11. R&D
12. Surplus assets
13. Communications
14. Purchasing
15. Products
16. Market and prices
17. Sales organization
18. Sales prices
19. Advertising
 20. PR
21. Tax
22. Legal
23. Listing
Contents of a Due Diligence Report
The contents of a due diligence report will always vary with individual circumstances. Following headings are
illustrative.

 Executive Summary

 Introduction

 Background of target

 Objectives of due diligence

 Terms of reference and scope of verification

 Brief history of the company

 Share holding pattern

 Observation on the review

 Assessment of management structure

 Assessment of financial liabilities

 Assessment of valuation of assets

 Comments on properties, terms of leases, lien and encumbrances

 Assessment of operating results

 Assessment of taxation and statutory liabilities

 Assessment of possible liabilities on account of litigation and legal proceedings against the company

 Assessment of net worth

 Interlocking investments and financial obligations with group/ associates companies, amounts receivables
subject to litigation, any other likely liability which is not provided for in the books of account

 SWOT ANALYSIS Comments on future projections

 Status of charges, liens, mortgages, assets and properties of the company

 Suggestion on ways and means including affidavits, indemnities, to be executed to cover unforseen and
undetected contingent liabilities

 Suggestion on various aspects to be taken care of before and after proposed merger / acquisition
Epilogue
In effect of due diligence is a combination of proprietary audit, statutory audit and internal audit. It can be a big
tool in the strategic decision making of an entity. In this sense it can truly help the entity entering, into the
merger / acquisition to increase its shareholders’ wealth.