So you have been approached by a potential acquirer of your business. Regardless of whether the deal is structured as an asset transaction, a stock transaction, or a merger, you can expect that the acquirer will want to conduct a detailed "due diligence investigation" of your company's finances and operations. The following is a checklist of information and documents you can expect the acquirer will want to review.

A. Organization and Good Standing

• The Company's Articles of Incorporation, and all amendments

• The Company's Bylaws, and all amendments

• The Company's minute book, including all minutes and resolutions of shareholders and directors, executive committees, and other governing groups

• The Company's organizational chart

• The Company's list of shareholders and number of shares held by each

• Copies of agreements relating to options, voting trusts, warrants, puts, calls, subscriptions, and convertible securities

• A Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State of the state where the Company is incorporated

• Copies of active status reports in the state of incorporation for the last three years

• A list of all states where the Company is authorized to do business and annual reports for the last three years

• A list of all states, provinces, or countries where the Company owns or leases property, maintains employees, or conducts business

• A list of all of the Company's assumed names and copies of registrations

B. Financial Information.

• Audited financial statements for three years, together with Auditor's Reports

• The most recent unaudited statements, with comparable statements to the prior year

• Auditor's letters and replies for the past five years

• The Company's credit report, if available

• Any projections, capital budgets, and strategic plans

• Analyst reports, if available

• A schedule of all indebtedness and contingent liabilities

• A schedule of inventory

• A schedule of accounts receivable

• A schedule of accounts payable

• A description of depreciation and amortization methods and changes in accounting methods over the past five years

• Any analysis of fixed and variable expenses

• Any analysis of gross margins

• The Company's general ledger

• A description of the Company's internal control procedures

D. Physical Assets.

• A schedule of fixed assets and their locations

• All U.C.C. filings

• All leases of equipment

• A schedule of sales and purchases of major capital equipment during the last three years

E. Real Estate.

• A schedule of the Company's business locations

• Copies of all real estate leases, deeds, mortgages, title policies, surveys, zoning approvals, variances, or use permits

F. Intellectual Property.

• A schedule of domestic and foreign patents and patent applications

• A schedule of trademark and trade names

• A schedule of copyrights

• A description of important technical know-how

• A description of methods used to protect trade secrets and know-how

• Any "work for hire" agreements

• A schedule and copies of all consulting agreements, agreements regarding inventions, licenses, or assignments of intellectual property to or from the Company

• Any patent clearance documents

• A schedule and summary of any claims or threatened claims by or against the Company regarding intellectual property

G. Employees and Employee Benefits.

• A list of employees including positions, current salaries, salaries, and bonuses paid during last three years, and years of service

• All employment, consulting, nondisclosure, nonsolicitation, or noncompetition agreements between the Company and any of its employees

• Resumes of key employees

• The Company's personnel handbook and a schedule of all employee benefits and holiday, vacation, and sick leave policies

• Summary plan descriptions of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans

• Copies of collective bargaining agreements, if any

• A description of all employee problems within the last three years, including alleged wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination

• A description of any labor disputes, requests for arbitration, or grievance procedures currently pending or settled within the last three years

• A list and description of benefits of all employee health and welfare insurance policies or self-funded arrangements

• A description of worker's compensation claim history

• A description of unemployment insurance claims history

• Copies of all stock option and stock purchase plans and a schedule of grants

H. Licenses and Permits.

• Copies of any governmental licenses, permits, or consents

• Any correspondence or documents relating to any proceedings of any regulatory agency

I. Environmental Issues.

• Environmental audits, if any, for each property leased by the Company

• A listing of hazardous substances used in the Company's operations

• A description of the Company's disposal methods

• A list of environmental permits and licenses

• Copies of all correspondence, notices, and files related to EPA, state, or local regulatory agencies

• A list identifying and describing any environmental litigation or investigations

• A list identifying and describing any known Superfund exposure

• A list identifying and describing any contingent environmental liabilities or continuing indemnification obligations

J. Taxes.

• Federal, state, local, and foreign income tax returns for the last three years

• States sales tax returns for the last three years

• Any audit and revenue agency reports

• Any tax settlement documents for the last three years

• Employment tax filings for three years

• Excise tax filings for three years

• Any tax liens

K. Material Contracts.

• A schedule of all subsidiary, partnership, or joint venture relationships and obligations, with copies of all related agreements

• Copies of all contracts between the Company and any officers, directors, five-percent shareholders, or affiliates

• All loan agreements, bank financing arrangements, line of credit, or promissory notes to which the Company is a party

• All security agreements, mortgages, indentures, collateral pledges, and similar agreements, including guaranties to which the Company is a party, and any installment sale agreements

• Any distribution agreements, sales representative agreements, marketing agreements, and supply agreements

• Any letters of intent, contracts, and closing transcripts from any mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures within last five years

• Any options and stock purchase agreements involving interests in other companies

• The Company's standard quote, purchase order, invoice, and warranty forms

• All nondisclosure or noncompetition agreements to which the Company is a party

• All other material contracts

L. Product or Service Lines.

• A list of all existing products or services and products or services under development

• Copies of all correspondence and reports related to any regulatory approvals or disapprovals of any Company's products or services

• A summary of all complaints or warranty claims

• A summary of results of all tests, evaluations, studies, surveys, and other data regarding existing products or services and products or services under development

M. Customer Information.

• A schedule of the Company's twelve largest customers in terms of sales thereto and a description of sales thereto over a period of two years

• Any supply or service agreements

• A description or copy of the Company's purchasing policies

• A description or copy of the Company's credit policy

• A schedule of unfilled orders

• A list and explanation for any major customers lost over the last two years

• All surveys and market research reports relevant to the Company or its products or services

• The Company's current advertising programs, marketing plans, and budgets, and printed marketing materials

• A description of the Company's major competitors

N. Litigation.

• A schedule of all pending litigation

• A description of any threatened litigation

• Copies of insurance policies possibly providing coverage as to pending or threatened litigation

• Documents relating to any injunctions, consent decrees, or settlements to which the Company is a party

• A list of unsatisfied judgments

O. Insurance Coverage.

• A schedule and copies of the Company's general liability, personal and real property, product liability, errors and omissions, key-man, directors and officers, worker's compensation, and other insurance

• A schedule of the Company's insurance claims history for past three years

P. Professionals.

• A schedule of all law firms, accounting firms, consulting firms, and similar professionals engaged by the Company during past five years

Q. Articles and Publicity.

• Copies of all articles and press releases relating to the Company within the past three years.

Getting Legal Advice for the Sale of Your Business

As you prepare to sell or merge you business, you'll want to ensure you are complying with all laws and performing your "due diligence." Have an experienced business and commercial law attorney on your side during the process.