Commercial Due Diligence

Commercial due diligence: Strategic analysis of the intrinsic value of companies

Performing a commercial due diligence is an essential part of almost any transaction with investors, both on the buy and the sell side. The two key questions are: why has the company been successful in the past, and how successful can the company be in the future?

To answer these questions, several factors need to be analysed: business model, relevant markets, competition, customer feedback, and the company's positioning in its markets. In addition, the company’s potential is examined and evaluated. Particular importance is attached to analszing the factors that make a company competitive and thus fit for the future: its product and service differentiation, innovation strength, supply chain, degree of digitisation, as well as customer structure, management, alongside its access to qualified personnel and ESG potential.

Components of a commercial due diligence

Particularly in times of profound change, strategic analyses are imperative to identify the business dynamics of the market, customer, and competitive environment and to dynamically model their impact on the company's competitiveness. This is the very purpose of any commercial due diligence. The typical scope of a commercial due diligence consists of the following topics:

  • Business model
  • Product and service range
  • Market development
  • Access to customers and customer feedback on key purchasing criteria
  • Competitive dynamics and competitive position
  • Business plan
  • Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT)

A commercial due diligence examines quantitative and qualitative aspects of the company, competition, and market environment. To be able to perform an excellent commercial due diligence in a short time, commercial due diligence teams must have a high level of industry expertise as well as the necessary functional due diligence skills.

Commercial Due Diligence with CODEX Partners

With approx. 400 successful commercial due diligence projects for the buy and sell side, CODEX Partners is one of the leading strategy consultancies for investors and mid-sized companies in the DACH region in industry, IT, health care, consumer goods, and services sectors.

Your contact persons for Due Diligence

Network

An important success factor of our work is the involvement of experts in our teams. CODEX Partners leverages a large network of industry and technology experts that we have built up since our foundation.

References

Since its foundation, CODEX Partners has carried out over 600 projects together with our clients. With our expertise as a leading transaction adviser in the German-speaking region, we assist both national and international private equity investors.

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  • January 2024

    Virthos Partners successfully completed the refinancing of its investment in FireDos GmbH

    CODEX Partners prepared the Commercial Factbook for FireDos GmbH

  • January 2024

    AddSecure Group, a portfolio company of funds managed by Castik Capital, has reached an agreement to acquire DigiComm Group

    CODEX Partners provided the Commercial Due Diligence of DigiComm to AddSecure Group and its shareholders

  • December 2023

    Rivean Capital has reached an agreement to acquire Dataciders GmbH

    CODEX Partners provided the Commercial Due Diligence of Dataciders to Rivean Capital

  • November 2023

    Holl Flachdachbau GmbH & Co. KG Isolierungen, a subsidiary of Primutec Solutions Group, has reached an agreement to acquire Clen Solar GmbH & Co. KG

    CODEX Partners has strategically advised Holl Flachdachbau on its investment in Clen Solar

  • November 2023

    Ardian has reached an agreement to sell its stake in imes-icore Holding GmbH

    CODEX Partners provided the Commercial Vendor Due Diligence of imes-icore for Ardian

  • June 2023

    Unigestion has reached an agreement to acquire Springer National's Professional Transport Unit

    CODEX Partners provided the Commercial Vendor Due Diligence to Springer Nature

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What types of due diligence do exist?

We distinguish between the following types of due diligence:

  • Commercial due diligence (examination of the business model and corporate strategy, market, customer, and competitive intentions, and business plan validation)
  • Financial due diligence (examination of the assets, earnings and financial situation)
  • Legal Due Diligence (examination of legal factors)
  • Tax Due Diligence (examination of tax law factors)
  • Operational due diligence (examination of technical processes)
  • Compliance due diligence (examination of compliance with rules and ethical principles)
  • Technical due diligence (examination of the IT landscape, the software systems used in the company and cyber security)
  • ESG due diligence (review of sustainability with regard to environment, social, governance)

What is examined during a due diligence?

In a due diligence review, opportunities and risks are analysed in advance of an intended transaction (in this case, company acquisition or sale, IPO, investment). Depending on the purpose, the areas to be examined vary. The due diligence review is initiated by the buyer or seller of the company and carried out in the context of upcoming transactions.

In the case of a company purchase or investment, the legal, tax, economic and financial factors as well as the commercial and strategic aspects of the target company are examined. Depending on the business model, other specific aspects, such as environmental assessments (ESG reviews), may be relevant to the review.

What is our contribution?

  • We provide buy-side commercial due diligences as well as commercial vendor due diligences.
  • Based on our operational project experience, we also offer operational due diligence.
  • For software companies, we also provide software due diligences.
  • With approx. 400 completed commercial due diligence projects, we are a market leader for commercial due diligence in the German-speaking region.
  • Our projects cover all major sectors: industry, IT, healthcare, consumer and services.
  • Most of our projects are international.
  • For coverage of international markets, we employ our international team. We work closely together with partners and expert networks for market research.

Who performs a due diligence review?

The due diligence is mandated by the buyer/investor or by the target company (seller). Depending on the type of due diligence (e.g., commercial due diligence), the process is usually carried out by experts such as strategy consultants, tax consultants/auditors or by technical experts.

Why is a due diligence audit important?

A due diligence review helps to identify all relevant opportunities and risks of a company in advance. A distinction is made between the following 3 types of opportunities and risks:

  1. Economic opportunities and risks: The purchase of a company has a direct impact on the economic situation of the buyer. Therefore, a systematic analysis of strengths and weaknesses is essential as a safeguard for the buyer.
  2. Legal risks: Here we examine the extent to which legal issues can lead to risks to the company's existence and liability. Aspects of competition law are also examined here.
  3. ESG opportunities and risks: Risks relating to the environment, corporate governance and compliance with the law, as well as social factors (treatment of employees, customers, etc.). In other words, ESG is about "human benefit" or the value the company adds to people (especially employees and customers, the environment, and society). ESG risks can result in penalties or damage to a company's image. Positively speaking, added value can be created through a consistent ESG strategy.

What is the purpose of due diligence analysis in the acquisition of a company?

The due diligence analysis is an important part of a successful corporate transaction. It helps the buyer to identify the opportunities and risks associated with the purchase. The results of the analyses are summarised in due diligence reports, e.g., Commercial Due Diligence Report, Financial Due Diligence Report. Based on the expert assessments, the buyer can get a comprehensive picture of the object of purchase and derive a purchase price. Many aspects analysed in the due diligence play a role in the offer price, e.g., growth prospects, risks in the market environment, synergy potential, gaining market share and many more.

What is Commercial Due Diligence?

An investor invests in the future of a company and not in the past. As a result, a commercial due diligence should answer 3 questions: Why was the company under review successful in the past and how successful is it likely to be in the future and for what reasons? This is exactly where commercial due diligence comes in. The focus is on a careful examination of the business model, the relevant market environment (market drivers, trends, market size, market share, etc.) and the positioning in the current and future competitive environment. In addition, the resilience of current customer relationships, as well as future growth potentials are of interest with which the business planning of the target company can be validated.

If commercial due diligence is performed for the seller, i.e., of the target company, it is referred to as commercial vendor due diligence. This provides potential investors with in-depth insights into the company. These insights are then confirmed (or not) by other strategy consultants on the buyer side.

What characterises an excellent commercial due diligence?

An excellent commercial due diligence focuses on the future development of the target company and its value creation potential. An excellent commercial due diligence creates clear answers to the 2 questions: Why was the company under review successful in the past and how successful can it be in the future. These questions are substantiated through analyses, interviews with management, experts and customers. Industry knowledge and experience in conducting commercial due diligence are important prerequisites for achieving results in the short time available. In retrospect, the quality of a commercial due diligence is shown by the actual development of the target.

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