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Description

Acquisition Due Diligence: Analysing the Accounts, Quantifying Risks and Negotiating Warranties

Run a due diligence exercise that genuinely supports the negotiation and turn every finding into a clause of the sale agreement

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Expert
  • Up to 6 participants

In an acquisition, the buyer works against the clock, with an incomplete data room and a seller presenting the accounts in their best light. The surprises sit in available cash, the true working capital requirement, employee end-of-service liabilities, pending disputes and contracts that may be challenged by the change of control.

Two expert-level days to scope the assignment, analyse the quality of earnings and cash, cover the legal, tax and employment dimensions, then convert findings into price adjustments and warranty clauses.

Learning objectives

  • Scope the perimeter
  • timetable and resources of the assignment
  • Analyse the quality of the target's earnings and cash position
  • Identify legal
  • tax and employment-related liabilities
  • Measure the impact of findings on the proposed price

What makes this programme different

A complete transaction file runs through the programme from scoping to final debrief
Every audit finding is converted into a drafted warranty clause
A summary note to the buyer is produced and defended orally

Programme

1Scoping the assignment and the data room

Knowing where to look and how far to go

  • Define the perimeter and the priority areas of investigation
  • Build the information request list addressed to the seller
  • Organise the data room work and management interviews
  • Set the limits of the assignment and the reservations expressed

2Accounting and financial due diligence

Understanding true earning capacity

  • Adjust earnings for non-recurring items
  • Analyse the working capital requirement and its seasonality
  • Rebuild net debt and debt-like items
  • Assess the reliability of the forecasts presented

3Legal, tax and employment due diligence

Uncovering hidden liabilities

  • Review the constitutional documents
  • shareholdings and shareholders' agreements
  • Analyse contracts sensitive to a change of control
  • Assess tax exposures and the positions taken by the target
  • Quantify employee end-of-service liabilities and pending labour claims

4Reporting back and securing the transaction

Influencing the price and the clauses

  • Rank findings according to their financial impact
  • Build price adjustments and earn-out mechanisms
  • Formulate representations and warranties requests
  • Present the summary to the buyer and its advisers

Who is it for

Chief financial officers · mergers and acquisitions managers · accountants · auditors and legal counsel involved in acquisition transactions.

Prerequisites

Sound command of financial statement analysis and familiarity with the legal framework of business transfers.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.