Intelligent Due Diligence

Westport Business Solutions provides due diligence and business consulting services to clients who are considering complex business transactions including:

• Investments
• Joint-ventures
• Mergers/Acquisitions
• Partnerships
• Looking to create greater efficiencies in their existing business models or,
• Considering taking the next major step in terms of a new technology or market

We also offer support services to other management consulting practices, law firms and accountants whose clients are evaluating similar challenges and/or opportunities.

Through our extensive array of affiliate professionals, we can offer a wide range of services to support our clients and help them achieve optimum results while making sound, informed, risk-based decisions.

We are able to draw upon recognized professionals in a wide array of industries and functional activities. We can also assist with pre and post-transaction business management.

What differentiates Westport Business Solutions is that we focus on working with you to generate alternative, “out-of-the-box-thought” strategies that will help mitigate transactional risk while still achieving the defined objectives, as well as developing refined strategies that will enhance the intrinsic value of the ultimate outcome.

As with our other consulting activities, Westport Business Solutions is committed to providing intelligent business recommendations and solutions under tight operating deadlines.

Finally, under certain circumstances, Westport Business Solutions is willing to discuss “success only” fee structures with its clients for due diligence related consulting services potentially allowing them to contemplate opportunities which they otherwise might not be able to do.

Due Diligence Disciplines:

For any given engagement, Westport Business Solutions has the flexibility to draw down from a broad group of affiliated members who collectively bring the varied disciplines to bear to achieve the most effective, most complete and most successful conclusion possible to each transaction. The degree to which each discipline is involved is, of course, dependent on the specific objectives of the transaction and what is ultimately required to execute a successful solution.

Disciplines include: 

Business Strategy: Assess the strategic fit of the transaction. Our professionals apply their experience and expertise to:

• Gain an in-depth understanding of the business proposal and determine whether it truly meets your strategic criteria, whatever they may be
• Immediately consider alternative options if the original proposal contains potential flaws or does not have compelling merit
• Evaluate all aspects of the post-transaction model with a go-forward strategy, giving careful attention to market circumstances and desired objective(s).

Technology: IT specialists evaluate the underlying technology and the technology framework (including people) within a target environment. If the technology is itself an intrinsic target of the transaction, does its true value support the valuation originally placed upon it from the client’s perspective? If it’s not an intrinsic target, what are the real costs associated with ensuring that the technology framework performs to required specifications?

Should it be necessary, various alternative technology options may be evaluated to ensure planned objectives can be met.

Distribution and Logistics: Supply Chain specialists assess the target environment’s operations and logistics capabilities. Again, if the supply chain capability is itself an intrinsic target of the transaction, does its true value support the valuation originally placed upon it from the client’s perspective? If it’s not an intrinsic target, what are the real costs associated with ensuring that the supply chain operations perform at required specifications, especially with reference to volume and accuracy capabilities?

Business Integration: Supporting post-transaction integration teams with a comprehensive plan to ensure optimum conditions for successful completion of short and longer-term goals. Plan typically includes:

Transaction Record Documentation: Documenting and communicating the strategies and business objectives of the integration plan, including work plans and performance milestones that will objectively validate the integration progress. Communications Plans are developed for all key stakeholders, a decisive key to the ultimate success of any significant transaction.

Human Resources Plan: Providing guidance related to the retention and integration of human resources from board level to shop floor and reviewing organizational design based on revised business objectives, control structure and "reduction in force" initiatives to achieve cost savings required by the transaction. 

Technology Plan: Most often helping to maintain multiples technologies while seeking to move to a harmonized platform in the shortest timeframe possible while still running a viable business model.

Operations Plan: Assist in preparing detailed integration plans for all functional areas including finance, accounting, distribution, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, and sales. 

In each element of this plan, the importance of remaining disciplined and focused tempers the impulse to realize cost savings prematurely at a point, or in a manner in which they may not ultimately be sustainable.

Westport Business Solutions is dedicated to achieving the tight business deadlines which are the norm with due diligence work while retaining its “Intelligent Business Due Diligence” approach.

Considering a significant change or transaction? Contact us to find out how Westport Business Solution's intelligent approach to due diligence can represent the competitive edge - getting the vital information you need and the assurance that you have a clear view of the challenge.

GRC and Due Diligence Practices Leader - Nevil Ede