Financial Due Diligence
Introduction
Financial Due Diligence is a critical process undertaken during investments, acquisitions, mergers, and strategic transactions to evaluate the true financial position, performance, and risks of a business.
It goes beyond surface-level financial review and focuses on identifying key financial drivers, sustainability of earnings, working capital requirements, potential liabilities, and areas of concern that may impact valuation or transaction structuring.
Our Financial Due Diligence services are designed to provide independent, structured, and analytical insights that support informed decision-making for investors, acquirers, and stakeholders.
Who Needs This Service
These services are relevant for:
- Investors (Angel Investors, Venture Capital, Private Equity Funds)
- Acquiring companies and strategic buyers
- Startups raising funds
- SMEs undergoing investment or sale transactions
- Group companies evaluating acquisitions
- Investment bankers and advisors
- Family offices and investment entities
Any stakeholder involved in a financial transaction requiring clarity, risk assessment, and validation of financial information can benefit from due diligence.
Scope of Services – What We Cover
A. Quality of Earnings (QoE) Analysis
- Analysis of revenue streams and sustainability
- Identification of non-recurring and exceptional items
- Normalization of EBITDA
- Margin analysis and profitability trends
Assessing the true earning capacity of the business.
B. Financial Statement Review
- Review of historical financial statements
- Trend analysis (revenue, expenses, margins)
- Ratio analysis and performance benchmarking
- Identification of inconsistencies or anomalies
Providing a clear view of financial performance.
C. Working Capital & Cash Flow Analysis
- Assessment of working capital requirements
- Debtors, creditors, and inventory analysis
- Cash flow sustainability review
- Identification of cash flow gaps
Understanding liquidity and operational efficiency.
D. Debt & Liability Assessment
- Review of borrowings and financing structure
- Identification of contingent liabilities
- Off-balance sheet exposures
- Compliance with loan covenants
Evaluating financial risk and obligations.
E. Tax & Compliance Review (Financial Perspective)
- Review of tax positions impacting financials
- Identification of potential tax exposures
- GST and TDS impact on financial statements
- Compliance gaps affecting valuation
Linking financials with regulatory and tax risks.
F. Adjustments & Normalization
- Identification of accounting adjustments
- Related party transactions analysis
- One-off income/expenses adjustments
- Preparation of normalized financials
Ensuring comparability and accurate valuation inputs.
G. Management Information & MIS Review
- Review of internal MIS systems
- Comparison of MIS vs audited financials
- Reliability of reporting systems
- Data integrity assessment
Assessing the quality of financial reporting systems.
H. Transaction Support & Insights
- Key financial observations and red flags
- Inputs for valuation and deal structuring
- Identification of risk areas and mitigation points
- Assistance in negotiation insights
Supporting informed and strategic decision-making.
How This Helps Your Business
Financial Due Diligence enables stakeholders to:
- Make informed investment or acquisition decisions
- Identify financial risks and hidden liabilities
- Validate business performance and projections
- Support valuation and pricing decisions
- Strengthen negotiation position
- Ensure transparency and reduce deal uncertainty
- Avoid post-transaction surprises
Due diligence is not just verification—it is a critical risk management and decision-making tool.
Our Approach
We follow a structured and analytical framework:
- Understanding transaction objectives
- Data request and information gathering
- Financial data analysis and validation
- Identification of key issues and risk areas
- Preparation of analytical reports
- Discussion of findings with stakeholders
- Ongoing support during transaction stages
Our approach ensures depth, clarity, and actionable insights.
Why H K Davra & Co.
- Experience in Financial Due Diligence assignments
- Strong analytical and accounting expertise
- Transaction-focused and risk-oriented approach
- Structured and detail-driven execution
- Integration of accounting, tax, and compliance perspectives
- Focus on practical and actionable insights
The emphasis is on identifying what matters for the transaction—not just presenting data.
Scope of Engagement & Deliverables
Depending on the engagement, deliverables may include:
- Financial Due Diligence Report
- Quality of Earnings (QoE) analysis
- Working capital assessment report
- Normalized financial statements
- Key risk and red flag summary
- Data analysis schedules and workings
- Transaction support notes
Deliverables are customized based on the nature, size, and complexity of the transaction.
Frequently asked questions
It is a detailed review of financial information to assess the true financial position, risks, and sustainability of a business before a transaction.
It is typically conducted during investments, acquisitions, mergers, or fundraising activities.
QoE analysis evaluates the sustainability and accuracy of reported earnings by adjusting non-recurring or unusual items.
Audit focuses on compliance and true & fair view, whereas due diligence focuses on risks, insights, and transaction decision-making
It depends on the size and complexity of the business, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks.
Yes, findings from due diligence often influence valuation, deal structure, and negotiation terms.