In the English language, Diligence means careful/persistent work/effort. Company Due Diligence refers to the examination and analysis of the company records, which will help in determining the financial standards of the company. This service is mostly availed by businesses when merging or acquiring new businesses.

These services will allow the management to gain the need of the present financial condition of the company and also help in uncovering any problems in the businesses. The management will be able to act on the said information and correct the course of the business.

The primary aim of Company Due Diligence is to check the value of all the assets and liabilities of the business. Due Diligence will also assess business risks that are currently being faced by the business or the potential threats which can occur in the near future.

The objectives of Company Due Diligence are:

1. Collect as much information about the target company as possible
2. Conduct the SWOT analysis of the company to identify its strengths and weaknesses
3. Identify the areas in which improvement is required.
4. Help in the decision-making process for the management
5. Enhancing the confidence of the investors and allows them to make informed decisions about investing in the company.

There are many other reasons due to which a company may conduct Due Diligence. These reasons depend on the requirement of the company and also to know whether fulfilling such requirement will create any problem to the management or not.

Company Due Diligence can be a lengthy process, and the different types of Due Diligence that management can choose from are:

1. Financial Due Diligence

Financial due diligence is a review of historical data, including trade results, cash flow and balance sheet of a company to know its financial position. It also includes a review of forecast performance and funding requirements.

2. Commercial Due Diligence

Commercial due diligence is conducted to examine various commercial factors, including market conditions, competitor analysis, product or service assessment, and any other commercial data the user wishes to investigate.

3. Operational Due Diligence

Operational due diligence considers the review of non-financial matters of a business, which may include insurance and risk assessment, HR activities, review of systems and processes and evaluation of management team.

4. Legal Due Diligence

Legal due diligence includes the investigation of any legal risk associated with the rights and obligations of the target company. The issues may involve intellectual property, employment disputes and property ownership.

The management of a company must take special care to understand the requirements of the company and avail services according to the need and demands of the business.