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Transaction Advice / Due Diligence
We provide financial due diligence services to banks, acquisitive companies and the providers of private equity. We use specialist staff to carry out the investigative process by which a potential investor in, or lender to, a business validates the assumptions on which its investment decision is based. Our dedicated team has extensive experience of transactions of all types and sizes across a variety of sectors.
The service is partner-led and focused on delivering what clients consistently highlight as the four key qualities of strong financial due diligence:
- Highlighting potential deal-breakers and issues for price negotiation promptly
- Presenting concise conclusions on the ability to meet financial forecasts, linked into a clear analysis of historical results
- Addressing the key risks and concerns
- Focused and not enshrined within caveats
- Work to a timetable
- Communicating clearly with all parties
A flexible approach and willingness to be involved early in the process, together with continued feedback and an adaptable reporting framework ensures that HW Corporate Finance Transaction Services adds value throughout the deal. Such an approach limits up front costs, provides support at each stage of the process and ultimately ensures that a sound investment decision can be made.
Vendor Due Diligence
As part of a controlled disposal, our vendor due diligence process enables all prospective purchasers to make informed bids based on the same information, mitigating the possibility of price reductions later in the sale process. It is therefore particularly useful where a business has a number of prospective bidders, minimising the disruption that would otherwise be caused by each party completing their own assessment. Furthermore, by carrying out such work in conjunction with the seller, HW Corporate Finance can assist in identifying factors with a potentially negative price impact, giving management time to address these before they become an issue.
Structuring Advice and Heads of Terms
In considering any deal, HW Corporate Finance can address all aspects of deal structuring, including detailed consideration of taxation, accounting and commercial issues. We can then advise on incorporating these into suitable Heads of Terms which will then form the basis of the Sale and Purchase Agreement. We can liaise with your lawyers to provide detailed assistance and commercial input into the legal drafting, including areas such as completion accounts and price adjustment mechanisms.
Admission to Capital Markets
In advance of any admission process, HW Corporate Finance can work with management to highlight potential deficiencies in, for example, management, accounting controls, procedures and policies, which may have a detrimental effect on valuations. These can be reported on informally or alternatively presented in the form of a detailed initial review report or checklist.
In addition to the provision of the financial due diligence report to any sponsor, we can also provide proven project management skills to ensure all advisors involved in the admission process work as one and time and effort is not duplicated during a period of intense pressure. By using external parties to help control the process, management are given more time to concentrate on the business, thus minimising the risk of any downturn in trading and corresponding negative impact on valuation or completion.