Due diligence is an essential element of many transactions including investments, business transactions and other types of business. It assists companies in making educated decisions and evaluate the risks, opportunities, and compliance requirements. It involves conducting extensive analyses as well as investigations and assessments of data and information typically from both internal and external sources.
The types of due diligence can vary from financial to operational, and strategic research. Here are a few of the most commonly used types:
Financial due diligence entails looking over the financial statements of the target company and identifying red-flags like inconsistencies in accounting. It includes analysing the firm's competitive position, business as well as the structure of its leadership and other aspects to determine if a purchase is an ideal one.
Legal due diligence analyzes areas such as legal and corporate structures, commercial contracts and employment agreements, intellectual properties information systems as well as environmental safety and health and safety, regulatory compliance, litigation and tax, and property. This kind of due diligence can help buyers determine the strengths, weaknesses and link potential issues. It can also assist them negotiate the most advantageous deal.
Customer due diligence (opens in a new window) is an important component of the Know Your Customer process. All financial institutions are required to abide with FATF-compliant laws and conduct customer due diligence. It's designed to ensure that customers are who and what they claim to be, and that they are not involved in terrorist or money laundering financing activities. It requires the collection of information from customers, including their full names along with their birth dates addresses, addresses, and other contact information. It also involves verifying their identities by asking for evidence of identity, comparing the databases of third-party sources, and analyzing the behavior of their customers for any suspicious behavior.