Mergers, Acquisitions & Due Diligence

Transaction Advisory for
Confident Deal Decisions

Financial due diligence, tax due diligence, business valuation, deal structuring and post-merger integration — structured advisory support from evaluation through closure.

Due diligence completed before your deal closes Financial, tax and compliance review timed to your transaction
Hidden liabilities identified before you commit capital Tax exposure, contingent liabilities and financial risks surfaced early
Reporting that supports negotiation, not just documentation Deal-focused findings on value, pricing and transaction terms
Transaction-specific scope — no generic checklists Procedures matched to your deal size, industry and objectives
Deal Intelligence
What We Evaluate in a Transaction

Structured review of financial performance, tax exposure, liabilities and transaction risks — before capital is committed.

  • Financial Due Diligence
  • Tax & GST Due Diligence
  • Quality of Earnings Analysis
  • Net Debt & Working Capital Review
  • Business Valuation Support
  • Deal Structuring & Risk Identification
Buy + Sell Side advisory
Fin + Tax Due diligence
6-Step Transaction process
10 Areas DD coverage
M&A Advisory

Transaction Support from Evaluation to Closure

M&A advisory combines financial analysis, due diligence, valuation support, transaction structuring and execution assistance — helping buyers, sellers and investors make well-informed deal decisions.

Financial Due Diligence

Review of revenue, earnings quality, cash flows, assets, liabilities and working capital to validate the financial picture.

Tax Due Diligence

Examination of income tax, GST, TDS obligations, pending assessments, notices and contingent tax liabilities.

Business Valuation

Value analysis using income, market and asset-based approaches to support transaction pricing and negotiation.

Deal Structuring & Integration

Transaction structuring inputs and post-deal financial integration support for accounting, reporting and controls.

Who needs M&A advisory
Companies Acquiring Corporates evaluating a target or strategic acquisition
Investors PE, angel and strategic investors doing pre-investment review
Startups Raising Capital Startups preparing financials for strategic investment rounds
Business Owners Exiting Promoters preparing for a business sale, merger or exit
Corporate Groups Groups restructuring through mergers, demergers or transfers
Promoters Seeking Valuation Promoters needing a value reference for deal discussions
Sellers Preparing Records Businesses organising financials ahead of buyer due diligence
Lenders & Banks Financial institutions requiring independent deal-level review
Services

M&A and Due Diligence Services

Transaction-focused advisory covering financial analysis, tax review, valuation and deal execution support.

01

Buy-Side Advisory

Support for acquirers and investors evaluating a target business.

  • Target financial and commercial assessment
  • Transaction risk identification
  • Valuation inputs and negotiation support
02

Sell-Side Advisory

Assistance for business owners preparing for a sale, exit or investment.

  • Pre-sale financial and tax preparation
  • Information organisation and data room
  • Buyer diligence query responses
03

Financial Due Diligence

Detailed review of the target's financial position and performance.

  • Revenue, margins and cash flow review
  • Net debt and working capital analysis
  • Quality of earnings assessment
04

Tax Due Diligence

Review of direct and indirect tax exposure, compliance and outstanding matters.

  • Income tax, TDS and GST compliance
  • Pending assessments and notices
  • Contingent tax liabilities
05

Business Valuation Support

Value analysis to support transaction pricing, negotiations and deal terms.

  • Income and earnings-based approaches
  • Market comparable analysis
  • Asset-based value estimation
06

Red Flag Review

Rapid preliminary assessment of key financial and tax risks before full diligence.

  • High-risk area identification
  • Go / no-go decision support
  • Summary observations report
07

Vendor Due Diligence

Seller-commissioned DD report prepared for sharing with prospective buyers.

  • Independent financial and tax review
  • Buyer-ready disclosure report
  • Speeds up transaction timelines
08

Deal Structuring

Advisory on structuring the transaction to optimise financial and tax outcomes.

  • Share vs. asset deal considerations
  • Consideration structure inputs
  • Earn-out and deferred payment review
09

Post-Deal Integration

Financial and accounting support after transaction closure.

  • Accounting and reporting alignment
  • Post-acquisition control setup
  • Financial system integration
Process

M&A Transaction Lifecycle

A structured six-stage process helps identify risks early and improves clarity throughout the transaction.

Stage 1 Mandate & Scope
Stage 2 Preliminary Evaluation
Stage 3 Due Diligence
Stage 4 Valuation
Stage 5 Negotiation Support
Stage 6 Closure & Integration
Stage 01

Mandate & Scope

  • Understand transaction objectives
  • Define diligence scope and areas
  • Agree timelines and deliverables
Stage 02

Preliminary Evaluation

  • Review available financial data
  • Identify priority risk areas
  • Prepare information request list
Stage 03

Due Diligence

  • Financial and tax deep-dive
  • Working capital and net debt review
  • Quality of earnings analysis
Stage 04

Valuation

  • Assess sustainable earnings base
  • Apply valuation methodologies
  • Derive indicative value range
Stage 05

Negotiation Support

  • Use DD findings for price discussion
  • Identify matters for warranties
  • Support SPA financial clauses
Stage 06

Closure & Integration

  • Closing accounts and adjustments
  • Post-deal accounting alignment
  • Reporting and controls setup
Due Diligence Areas

Key Areas We Evaluate

Due diligence is designed to understand the true financial position and surface matters that may affect transaction value or deal terms.

Financial Performance

Assessment of revenue trends, profitability, margins and financial sustainability over the review period.

  • Revenue growth and concentration
  • EBITDA and operating margins
  • Cash flow from operations

Quality of Earnings

Identification of non-recurring items and adjustments affecting sustainable or maintainable earnings.

  • Non-recurring income and expenses
  • Unusual or one-off transactions
  • Normalised EBITDA derivation

Working Capital

Review of receivables, inventory, payables and ageing to assess normal working-capital requirements.

  • Debtor and creditor ageing
  • Inventory levels and provisioning
  • Normalised working-capital peg

Net Debt

Review of all borrowings, cash, debt-like items and financial obligations that affect equity value.

  • Loans, overdrafts and guarantees
  • Debt-like obligations and provisions
  • Cash and near-cash items

Tax Exposure

Examination of income tax, GST, TDS compliance and outstanding tax disputes or contingencies.

  • Direct and indirect tax compliance
  • Pending assessments and notices
  • Contingent tax liabilities

Related-Party Transactions

Review of promoter and group-level transactions, balances and operational dependencies.

  • Promoter loans and advances
  • Group company transactions
  • Shared resource dependencies

Customer Concentration

Assessment of major customer dependency, revenue spread and collection history.

  • Top-customer revenue share
  • Contract tenure and renewal risk
  • Collection and credit trends

Employee Liabilities

Review of payroll, statutory dues and employment-related obligations affecting deal value.

  • PF, ESIC and gratuity compliance
  • Outstanding statutory dues
  • Key-employee dependency risk

Accounting Controls

Review of accounting processes, reconciliations, reporting systems and data reliability.

  • Book closure and reconciliation
  • Financial reporting quality
  • Internal control gaps
What You Receive

Deliverables from Every Engagement

Each mandate produces structured reports that support negotiation, board decisions, and deal closure — not just documentation.

Primary Deliverable
Due Diligence Report

The core engagement output — a structured report covering financial performance, tax exposure, key risks, and deal-specific observations with supporting data.

Executive Summary

Key findings and observations for decision-makers — structured for board or investor review

Financial Analysis

Revenue trends, quality of earnings, working capital, and normalised EBITDA schedules

Red Flag Register

Material observations, liabilities, and risk items that require attention or price adjustment

Deal Condition Checklist

Conditions precedent and post-closure action items aligned to deal terms

Valuation Report

Business valuation using DCF, comparable multiples, or net asset approach — with a supported value range for negotiation.

DCF Model EV / EBITDA Net Asset Value

Tax Diligence Note

Summary of direct and indirect tax positions, outstanding proceedings, and contingent exposures affecting transaction value or deal structuring.

Income Tax GST TDS Compliance

Management Q&A Log

Documented responses from target management to due diligence queries — forms part of the transaction record and supports warranty negotiations.

Query Log Representations Transaction Record

Scope is agreed before the engagement begins. Every mandate starts with a defined work scope, timeline, and document list — so deliverables are calibrated to the transaction size and your specific decision requirements, not a standard template.

Why Choose Us

Transaction Advisory Built for Indian Deals

M&A advisory from a practice that understands how Indian businesses are actually built — and where value is typically hidden or overstated.

What We Do Differently

Six reasons clients rely on us for transaction mandates

Offices in Pune, Mumbai and Nashik

On-ground presence across western India for physical document review, management meetings, and site visits.

Defined Timelines, Not Open-Ended Mandates

Every engagement starts with a scope letter, document list, and committed delivery date — so deal timelines are respected.

Financial, Tax, and Compliance Under One Roof

No need to co-ordinate between multiple advisors — financial DD, tax DD, and valuation are handled by the same team.

SME and Mid-Market Focus

Work calibrated to unlisted Indian businesses — closely held companies, family-run operations, and founder-led entities.

Reports Written for Decisions, Not for Files

Findings are presented with context — what the number means for deal value, not just what the number is.

Independent Reporting — No Conflict of Interest

We act for one party per transaction. Findings are reported as observed, without softening for deal pressure.

Red Flags We Commonly Find

Issues that surface during Indian SME diligence

Revenue inflated by related-party sales — group entities purchasing at non-market rates to inflate topline before a transaction

Undisclosed GST or TDS demands — pending notices or arrears not reflected in balance sheets or shared data rooms

Promoter loan balances treated as equity — unsecured loans from directors or family included in net worth calculations

Working capital managed ahead of deal close — debtors collected and payables cleared to show an artificially clean balance sheet

Key revenue dependent on a single promoter relationship — contracts or clients that will not transfer with the business

PF and gratuity obligations not fully provided — statutory employee liabilities understated or omitted from contingent debt

Buyer & Seller Advisory

We Work on Both Sides of the Table

Whether you are acquiring a business or preparing one for sale, the advisory scope and focus are different — and so is how we approach each mandate.

Buy-Side
You Are Acquiring

You want to know exactly what you are buying — validated numbers, hidden liabilities, and a supportable price before you commit capital.

Primary concern
"Are the financials as presented, and what could go wrong after the deal closes?"
What we do for you

Financial Due Diligence

Validate revenue, margins, and cash flows; identify adjustments to normalised earnings

Tax Due Diligence

Identify pending tax demands, undisclosed liabilities, and structuring risk

Valuation & Price Support

Independent valuation to anchor your negotiation and support deal pricing

Red Flag & Risk Report

Material risks documented — what needs a price adjustment, indemnity, or deal condition

Sell-Side
You Are Selling

You want to enter the process with clean books, a defensible valuation, and no surprises that let a buyer renegotiate or walk away late.

Primary concern
"How do I present the business at its best — and avoid issues surfacing during the buyer's diligence?"
What we do for you

Vendor Due Diligence

Run DD on your own business before the buyer does — find and address issues proactively

Business Valuation

Understand the range of value before entering negotiations — and what drives it

Financial Records Preparation

Organise, reconcile, and present financials in a form that holds up to scrutiny

Tax Exit Planning

Structure the transaction to minimise post-sale tax liability — before deal terms are fixed

Not sure which side you are on?

Some transactions involve both — a partial exit, a merger, or a fundraise with valuation components. Discuss your situation with us and we will define the right scope.

Document Checklist

Documents Typically Required

A standard diligence request list covers four areas. The specific scope is agreed at mandate stage — not every document applies to every transaction.

Financial Documents

Accounts, statements and internal reports

  • Audited financial statements — last 3 years 3 years
  • Monthly MIS / management accounts
  • Bank statements — all accounts 12 months
  • Debtor and creditor ageing schedules
  • Fixed asset register and depreciation schedule
  • Loan agreements and repayment schedules

Tax Documents

Direct and indirect tax compliance records

  • Income tax returns with computation 3 years
  • GST returns — GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9
  • TDS returns and Form 26AS / AIS
  • Assessment orders and tax notices received
  • Pending appeals and dispute details
  • Transfer pricing documentation (if applicable)

Corporate & Legal Documents

Company constitution, ownership and contracts

  • MoA, AoA and certificate of incorporation
  • Shareholding pattern and share certificates
  • Board and shareholder meeting minutes
  • Key customer and vendor contracts
  • Licences, registrations and regulatory approvals
  • Property / lease agreements for premises

Operational Documents

People, assets and business operations

  • Employee list with designations and CTC
  • PF, ESIC and gratuity compliance records
  • Customer-wise revenue breakup 3 years
  • Inventory valuation report and stock records
  • Related-party transaction details and balances
  • Insurance policies and pending claims

A tailored checklist is shared at mandate stage

The list above is indicative. Once scope is agreed, we share a structured document request list specific to the transaction — with priorities, format preferences, and a submission timeline.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about M&A advisory, due diligence, and how engagements are structured.

A focused red flag review can be completed in 5–7 working days. A full financial and tax due diligence typically takes 3–4 weeks, depending on the volume of documents, responsiveness of the target, and the scope agreed at mandate stage. Timelines are defined in the engagement letter before work begins.

Financial DD focuses on the quality and sustainability of earnings, working capital, net debt, and the accuracy of historical financial statements. Tax DD covers income tax, GST, and TDS compliance — identifying pending demands, undisclosed liabilities, and structuring risks that could affect deal value or post-acquisition exposure. Both are usually conducted together.

Ideally, before signing the term sheet or letter of intent — so findings can influence deal terms, price, or conditions rather than create post-signing renegotiation. For sellers, vendor DD is most effective 2–3 months before entering a sale process, giving time to address issues before a buyer's team finds them.

No. We act for one party per transaction to maintain independence and avoid any conflict of interest. If we are engaged by a buyer, we cannot simultaneously advise the seller in the same deal — and vice versa. This is stated in our engagement terms.

A red flag review is a shorter, higher-level assessment designed to surface material concerns quickly — typically used at early deal stages or for smaller transactions. A full due diligence is a comprehensive review across all agreed areas, with detailed schedules, normalisation analysis, and a complete deliverable set. The right scope depends on deal size, timeline, and risk appetite.

Yes. Financial DD and business valuation are often conducted together — the normalised earnings and working capital peg from DD directly feed into the valuation model. Combining both reduces document requests, avoids duplication, and ensures the valuation reflects actual verified financials rather than management-presented numbers.

All information shared during the engagement is covered by a mutual non-disclosure agreement signed before any documents are shared. Data is accessed only by team members working on the engagement and is not shared with third parties. Physical and digital data handling protocols are discussed and agreed at the start of the mandate.

No. Due diligence is relevant for any transaction where a party is committing capital or assuming liabilities — including acquisitions of small businesses, partial stake purchases, and fundraising rounds with valuation components. The scope and depth are calibrated to the transaction size; smaller deals typically use a focused red flag review rather than a full DD process.

Start a Conversation

Discuss Your Transaction

Tell us about the deal — stage, size, and what you need. We will confirm scope and a timeline within one business day.

Confidential — NDA before any document sharing
Scope letter issued before engagement starts
One point of contact throughout the mandate
Pune · Mumbai · Nashik
Within 1 business day
team@laxmikant.com

M&A & Due Diligence Enquiry

We will confirm scope and timeline within one business day.

Enquiry Received

Thank you. We will review your requirement and respond within one business day.