Due Diligence Course

Lesson 1 • Risk and Materiality Concepts

Introduces risk identification and the concept of materiality as filters for prioritizing findings. These concepts underpin every analytical decision made during a review.

Lesson 2 • Defining Due Diligence

Covers the legal, financial, and operational definitions of due diligence and their distinctions. Anchors all subsequent learning in precise, shared terminology.

Lesson 3 • Stakeholders and Their Roles

Identifies who commissions, conducts, and is affected by due diligence. Understanding stakeholder dynamics shapes how findings are framed and communicated.

Lesson 4 • Types and Categories of Due Diligence

Maps the major due diligence categories: financial, legal, operational, commercial, and HR. Students learn when each type applies and how they interrelate.

Lesson 1 • Building the Due Diligence Work Plan

Structures tasks, milestones, and dependencies into an actionable work plan. A well-built plan coordinates multi-workstream teams and keeps reviews on schedule.

Lesson 2 • Information Request Lists

Designs targeted information request lists that elicit complete, relevant data from the target. Well-crafted requests reduce back-and-forth and accelerate analysis.

Lesson 3 • Resource and Team Allocation

Matches specialist skills to workstreams and manages team capacity across the engagement. Effective allocation reduces bottlenecks and quality gaps.

Lesson 4 • Defining Scope and Boundaries

Establishes what is in and out of scope, including geographic, temporal, and functional limits. Scope discipline protects timeline and budget integrity.

Lesson 1 • Document Collection and Verification

Establishes processes for collecting, authenticating, and versioning documents from the target. Rigorous document control prevents analysis based on outdated or incomplete data.

Lesson 2 • Managing Q&A and Information Flow

Coordinates the question-and-answer process between buyer teams and the target's management. Structured Q&A prevents information asymmetry and keeps the process on schedule.

Lesson 3 • Virtual Data Room Setup and Structure

Covers folder architecture, naming conventions, and access controls for a virtual data room. Proper setup accelerates reviewer navigation and protects sensitive information.

Lesson 4 • Data Analytics in Due Diligence

Applies data analytics tools to large datasets for pattern detection and anomaly identification. Analytics capabilities accelerate review and surface insights unavailable through manual review.

Lesson 1 • Working Capital and Cash Flow Analysis

Evaluates the target's cash conversion cycle and working capital requirements. Accurate working capital benchmarks protect buyers from post-close cash shortfalls.

Lesson 2 • Quality of Earnings Assessment

Distinguishes recurring from non-recurring items to determine sustainable earnings power. This adjustment is central to valuation and deal pricing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Analyzing Historical Financial Statements

Reviews income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for trends and anomalies. Historical analysis forms the baseline for all forward-looking financial work.

Lesson 4 • Debt, Liabilities, and Off-Balance-Sheet Items

Identifies all financial obligations, including contingent and off-balance-sheet exposures. Complete liability mapping prevents unexpected post-close obligations.

Lesson 1 • Intellectual Property and Data Rights

Confirms ownership, registration, and enforceability of the target's intellectual property. IP gaps can undermine deal value and trigger post-close disputes.

Lesson 2 • Litigation and Dispute Exposure

Catalogs active, threatened, and historical litigation to quantify legal exposure. Litigation risk informs indemnity negotiations and escrow arrangements.

Lesson 3 • Contract and Commitment Review

Assesses key contracts for change-of-control clauses, termination rights, and onerous terms. Contract risk directly affects deal structure and post-close operations.

Lesson 4 • Regulatory and Licensing Compliance

Verifies that the target holds required licenses and complies with applicable regulatory frameworks. Non-compliance can delay closing or create post-close liability.

Lesson 1 • Market and Competitive Landscape Analysis

Evaluates market size, growth drivers, and competitive dynamics affecting the target. Market context determines whether financial projections are credible.

Lesson 2 • Business Model and Revenue Quality

Deconstructs how the target generates revenue and assesses its sustainability and scalability. Revenue quality analysis links commercial findings to financial due diligence.

Lesson 3 • Management and Organizational Assessment

Evaluates leadership depth, organizational design, and key-person dependency. Management quality is a leading indicator of post-close performance.

Lesson 4 • Operational Capabilities Assessment

Reviews production, supply chain, technology, and process maturity against industry benchmarks. Operational gaps signal integration costs or post-close investment needs.

Lesson 1 • Deal-Breaker Identification

Establishes criteria for identifying risks that are fatal to the transaction as structured. Clear deal-breaker logic protects clients from proceeding on unacceptable terms.

Lesson 2 • Building the Risk Register

Structures identified risks by category, likelihood, impact, and recommended mitigant. A well-built risk register is the primary decision-support tool for deal teams.

Lesson 3 • Cross-Workstream Integration

Connects financial, legal, commercial, and operational findings to reveal compounding risks. Integration prevents siloed analysis from missing deal-critical interdependencies.

Lesson 4 • Quantifying Financial Impact of Risks

Translates qualitative risks into financial estimates for valuation and deal structuring purposes. Quantification bridges due diligence findings and commercial negotiation.

Lesson 1 • Management Presentations and Readouts

Prepares and delivers verbal presentations of due diligence findings to client leadership. Effective readouts build client confidence and enable real-time decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Due Diligence Report Structure

Defines the standard architecture of a due diligence report from executive summary to appendices. Consistent structure enables readers to navigate findings efficiently.

Lesson 3 • Visual Communication of Findings

Uses charts, tables, and heat maps to present risk and financial data with clarity. Visual tools accelerate comprehension and highlight priorities for busy decision-makers.

Lesson 4 • Writing for Non-Technical Audiences

Translates complex financial and legal findings into plain language for board-level readers. Accessible writing ensures findings drive decisions rather than create confusion.