Our due diligence solutions

At Kearney, we provide trusted advisory support on the key strategic elements of the pre-acquisition process, including the following:

Commercial due diligence

To make a fact-based decision, investment decision-makers need to understand both the market’s business peculiarities and the target’s business model. To help them do so, we perform comprehensive assessments of the market, the competition, and the customers and analyze management’s business plan while providing an informed view of the opportunities and the risks for the target.

Operational due diligence

Our leadership and know-how in operations allow us to uncover value-creation opportunities to maximize the EBITDA for the target. We conduct a full review of the cost base and the operational working capital to identify sustainable opportunities that improve both EBITDA and free cash flow. In conjunction with value creation, we emphasize value protection and business plan operational robustness, identifying any potential operational red flags along with corresponding mitigation strategies.

IT and digital due diligence

As the world becomes more even digital, businesses need to understand the technological landscape and the IT considerations for the target. We conduct an in-depth review of the IT landscape, digital platforms, and technological value-creation considerations. We also assess the digital landscape, the core IT platforms and systems, and the IT infrastructure, and we review the IT costs and the IT team operating model.

ESG due diligence

Today’s customers, regulators, and investors want companies to embed sustainability into their operations. For investors, this brings both opportunities and risks that need to be assessed at the pre-deal stage. We investigate ESG aspects across the full spectrum of commercial, operational, and IT, creating a red-flag assessment that highlights the risks and identifies the potential to create value from ESG opportunities.

Vendor due diligence

To maximize an asset’s sales value, we provide potential acquirers with a comprehensive commercial and operational assessment along with detailed information about the business.

From a commercial perspective, we cover the markets that the business operates in, the customer dynamics that shape those markets, and the competitive structure and business positioning, linking the core elements of the value proposition of the business with the market requirements needed to create a competitive advantage.

We cover business operations, service levels, and cost performance while also providing a view of both value protection and the near- and long-term opportunities to create value.