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Course Overview

Mergers and acquisitions are among the most complex strategic moves organizations can undertake. A successful transaction depends heavily on robust financial due diligence that identifies risks, validates assumptions, and confirms value creation potential. This course covers the full spectrum of financial due diligence—from analyzing financial statements and working capital to uncovering hidden liabilities and tax implications.

Delivered by EuroQuest International Training, the ten-day program emphasizes strategic foresight, governance, and risk management in M&A contexts. Participants will gain in-depth exposure to deal structuring, valuation drivers, and cross-border considerations, enabling them to provide reliable assessments and recommendations to boards, investors, and executive teams.

Course Benefits

• Master financial due diligence frameworks for M&A transactions

• Evaluate target company financial health and value drivers

• Identify hidden risks, liabilities, and deal-breaking issues

• Strengthen negotiation leverage with robust due diligence insights

• Align M&A strategies with governance and shareholder expectations

Why Attend

M&A deals can unlock growth—or destroy value—depending on the quality of due diligence. By attending this course, participants will gain the ability to conduct comprehensive financial assessments, safeguard their organizations against costly risks, and enhance the success rate of mergers and acquisitions.

Training Methodology

• Structured financial and strategic knowledge sessions

• Case-based illustrations of global M&A transactions

• Scenario-driven exploration of due diligence issues

• Strategic discussions on governance and valuation frameworks

• Conceptual and analytical modeling exercises

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the strategic role of financial due diligence in M&A

• Analyze target company financial statements for risks and trends

• Assess working capital, debt, and cash flow positions

• Identify potential liabilities, contingencies, and tax exposures

• Evaluate valuation assumptions and deal pricing accuracy

• Apply scenario and sensitivity analysis to M&A decisions

• Integrate governance, compliance, and ethical considerations

• Anticipate cross-border and regulatory issues in global M&A

• Communicate findings effectively to executive stakeholders

• Design due diligence processes that enhance transaction success

Course Outline

Unit 1: Strategic Role of Due Diligence in M&A

• Importance of due diligence in M&A success

• Common pitfalls in incomplete due diligence

• Linking due diligence to corporate strategy

• Global perspectives on M&A risk

• Governance and oversight in M&A

Unit 2: Framework for Financial Due Diligence

• Core steps in financial due diligence

• Role of internal and external advisors

• Integrating legal, tax, and operational reviews

• Building a due diligence roadmap

• Best practices in due diligence governance

Unit 3: Financial Statement and Trend Analysis

• Income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow review

• Quality of earnings assessment

• Identifying irregularities and accounting policies

• Trend analysis and sustainability of earnings

• Linking financial performance to valuation

Unit 4: Working Capital and Liquidity Assessment

• Normalized working capital analysis

• Liquidity and short-term solvency evaluation

• Impact of working capital on deal pricing

• Identifying working capital adjustments in M&A

• Case perspectives on liquidity-driven risks

Unit 5: Debt, Liabilities, and Off-Balance Sheet Risks

• Debt structure and repayment obligations

• Contingent liabilities and hidden exposures

• Pension, lease, and contractual obligations

• Off-balance sheet financing risks

• Impact on deal structure and negotiation

Unit 6: Taxation and Compliance in Due Diligence

• Tax compliance and historical liabilities

• Deferred tax assets and liabilities

• Transfer pricing and cross-border tax risks

• Regulatory considerations in global deals

• Tax structuring in M&A transactions

Unit 7: Valuation Drivers and Assumptions

• Testing valuation assumptions in due diligence

• Cash flow projections and forecasting reliability

• Sensitivity analysis of valuation models

• Identifying unrealistic or aggressive assumptions

• Aligning valuation with negotiation strategy

Unit 8: Risk Assessment and Scenario Testing

• Scenario and sensitivity testing in M&A

• Stress-testing target financials

• Risk-adjusted return expectations

• Identifying red flags and deal breakers

• Using foresight in risk anticipation

Unit 9: Cross-Border M&A Due Diligence

• Currency and geopolitical risk considerations

• Cultural and operational integration risks

• Regulatory and compliance complexities

• Emerging market challenges

• Lessons from cross-border deal failures

Unit 10: ESG and Reputational Risks in M&A

• ESG considerations in due diligence

• Environmental liabilities and compliance

• Social and reputational risks in target companies

• Governance alignment in M&A

• Sustainability integration in M&A strategies

Unit 11: Reporting and Communication of Findings

• Structuring due diligence reports for executives

• Highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommendations

• Negotiation leverage through due diligence findings

• Communicating with boards and investors

• Global best practices in due diligence reporting

Unit 12: Executive Integration and Future Outlook

• Designing robust due diligence processes

• Anticipating future M&A trends and risks

• Building internal M&A due diligence capabilities

• Strategic lessons from global M&A case studies

• Leadership reflections and course consolidation

Target Audience

• Chief financial officers and senior finance executives

• Corporate development and strategy leaders

• M&A advisors and investment bankers

• Risk management and compliance professionals

• Policy makers and regulators overseeing M&A

Target Competencies

• Financial risk assessment in M&A

• Valuation and deal pricing analysis

• Working capital and debt evaluation

• Governance and ethical decision-making

• Cross-border financial due diligence

• ESG and sustainability integration

• Strategic foresight in M&A contexts

Join the Mergers and Acquisitions: Financial Due Diligence Training Course from EuroQuest International Training to gain the expertise required to assess risks, validate valuations, and secure successful M&A outcomes.