A share purchase is different from buying selected assets
In a share purchase, the buyer generally acquires the company that already carries its history, contracts, assets and liabilities. In an asset purchase, selected assets and obligations may transfer under agreed documents. The due-diligence scope therefore depends on what is actually being purchased.
Do not let the trading name define the target. Record the company number and legal name at the top of every request list. If several group entities operate the business, map which company employs staff, owns equipment, signs customer contracts, occupies premises and receives revenue.
- Target legal entity and registration number
- Deal type and proposed consideration
- Assets, contracts and liabilities within scope
- Connected companies that support operations
Use the company report as the first evidence layer
The report gives the deal team a common starting point. Read status, incorporation date, company type, registered address, available directors and filings before accepting the seller’s narrative. Place events in chronological order and ask what changed, why it changed and which supporting document explains it.
Pay particular attention to identity changes, changes around the proposed sale period, gaps between current management and the public record, and security interests that may affect assets or completion mechanics. A signal is a question for diligence, not proof of wrongdoing.
Reconcile public records with the data room
Public records are only one part of acquisition diligence. Your advisers may need to examine financial statements, management accounts, tax, payroll, property, intellectual property, customer concentration, suppliers, employees, disputes, insurance, privacy and regulatory matters.
Create a reconciliation table with the seller’s statement, the supporting document, the public-record signal, the reviewer and the outcome. This prevents important gaps from disappearing across email threads and makes it easier to translate findings into transaction documents.
- What claim is the buyer relying on?
- Which document or independent source supports it?
- Does the company timeline agree with that evidence?
- Who owns the issue and what must happen before completion?
Know when screening must become professional diligence
An €11.99 report is an efficient screening and evidence tool, not a substitute for acquisition advice. As soon as an opportunity becomes credible, involve appropriately qualified legal, tax, financial and sector specialists based on the size and risk of the transaction.
The report can help you ask better questions earlier, compare multiple targets consistently and avoid spending advisory time on the wrong entity. It also provides a dated snapshot that can be refreshed shortly before signing or completion.