Due Diligence Request List
In connection with the potential financing of XYZ Corp. (together with all of its
subsidiaries and any predecessors, collectively, the "Company"), please provide us with
the following materials. If certain materials have already been provided or are unavailable
or inapplicable, please indicate so in your response to this request. Please note that our
due diligence investigation is ongoing and we will submit supplemental due diligence
requests as necessary.
Unless otherwise indicated, documents should be made available for all periods
subsequent to incorporation and should include all amendments, supplements and other
ancillary documents. Unless otherwise indicated, the word "material" means an item
involving payments (to or from the Company) or liabilities in excess of $100,000. Please
do not hesitate to contact IBG with any questions or concerns regarding this request.
1.
Corporate Records.
(a)
Organizational documents of the Company and each of its subsidiaries
(e.g. certificates of incorporation, by-laws, certificates of partnership,
partnership agreements, certificates of formation, limited liability
company agreements).
(b)
Minute books of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, including
minutes of meetings and actions by written consent of the board of
directors (or its equivalent) of the Company and any of its committees and
minutes of meetings and actions by written consent of the stockholders of
the Company.
(c)
Communications with stockholders, including annual reports, proxy
statements and correspondence.
(d)
Summary of the corporate history of the Company and any predecessors,
including any mergers, acquisitions, changes in control and divestitures.
(e)
Organizational structure chart of the Company and its subsidiaries
identifying the legal name, type of entity, ownership and jurisdiction of
organization.
(f)
List of all corporations, partnerships, joint ventures and other entities that
are not subsidiaries of the Company, but in which the Company owns an
interest. Include the number of authorized shares or interests, the number
of shares or interests owned by the Company, and the percentage of voting
securities or interests (and economic interests, if different) owned by the
Company. Provide any agreements to which the Company is a party
relating to these investments.
2.
(g)
List of special purpose entities in which the Company, any of its current or
former executive officers or directors have a significant interest (on an
individual or an aggregate basis) or that have purchased assets or assumed
liabilities from the Company or that have significant obligations to the
Company (each a "SPE"). Include a brief description of each SPE's
primary purpose or activities. Any agreements or documents setting forth
any arrangements (or if not memorialized, a description of any such
arrangement) between or among the Company and any SPE.
(h)
List of places where the Company is qualified to do business.
(i)
List of places where the Company operates its business or maintains
inventory, owns or leases property or has employees, agents or
independent contractors. Include the number of employees and a
description of operations or services performed at each location.
(j)
List and description of all transactions between the Company and any
stockholder, director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company (or
any entity or person formerly having the status thereof), including amounts
and names of parties involved, during the past [NUMBER] years.
Stockholder Information.
(a)
Stock certificate books and stock transfer ledgers or other records that
show all issuances, grants and cancellations of Company stock, options,
SARs (stock appreciation rights), restricted stock units, profits interests,
warrants and other actual, derivative or phantom equity interests, including
names and addresses of record and beneficial holders, dates of issuance,
payment information, grant or cancellation, and number of securities. For
options and warrants include the date of grant, the fair market value of the
underlying stock on the grant date, exercise price, number of shares
subject to the option, SAR or warrant and vesting terms and identifying by
jurisdiction grants made to persons located outside the US.
(b)
List of any oral or written agreements to grant or issue stock, options,
SARs (stock appreciation rights), restricted stock units, profits interests,
warrants or any other form of actual, derivative or phantom equity interest
in the Company.
3.
(c)
Stockholders agreements, put or call agreements, voting agreements, stock
transfer agreements or other arrangements among the stockholders of the
Company.
(d)
All documents known to the Company relating to outstanding proxies,
powers of attorney (with respect to any stock of the Company), voting
trusts, or other assignment of rights attaching to any securities of the
Company.
(e)
All outstanding agreements or other instruments that may in any way limit
the Company's ability to declare and pay dividends.
Securities Issuances.
(a)
Documents generated in connection with all equity financings of the
Company, including stock purchase agreements and related
documentation, such as offering circulars, private placement memoranda
and prospectuses relating to the offer or sale of equity securities.
(b)
Documents generated in connection with any convertible debt financings
of the Company.
(c)
Samples of common stock certificates, warrants, options, debentures and
any other outstanding securities.
(d)
Stock option and purchase plans and equity incentive plans of any type,
including forms of option and purchase agreements which have been or
may be used for these plans, and any options or warrants not under an
equity plan.
(e)
Agreements and other documentation relating to repurchases, redemptions,
exchanges, conversions or similar transactions involving the Company's
securities and schedule of any dividends paid or declared.
(f)
Agreements relating to registration rights.
(g)
Agreements relating to preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or co-sale
rights.
(h)
Forms D or any other forms filed to qualify for an exemption under the
Securities Act.
(i)
Governmental permits, notices of exemption and consents for issuance or
transfer of the Company's securities and evidence of qualification or
exemption under applicable blue sky laws.
4.
Financing Documents.
(a)
Summary of currently outstanding short-term debt, long-term debt, intercompany debt, contingent obligations and capital lease obligations of the
Company, including amounts, maturities and prepayment terms.
(b)
Summary of currently outstanding interest rate or foreign currency swaps,
caps, options, forwards or other derivative instruments or arrangements to
which the Company is a party.
(c)
Copies of any currently outstanding commitment letters or other
correspondence relating to proposed financings or borrowings which may
involve amounts in excess of $100,000 of indebtedness of the Company.
(d)
All correspondence and documents relating to contingent liabilities
exceeding $100,000.
(e)
All documents purporting to create liens, mortgages, security agreements,
pledges, charges or other encumbrances on the stock of the Company, on
any real or personal property of the Company or in favor of the Company.
Copies of all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed with
respect to the above.
(f)
Agreements evidencing borrowings by the Company, whether secured or
unsecured, documented or undocumented, including loan and credit
agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, letters of credit, indentures,
promissory notes and other evidences of indebtedness, and any
amendments, renewals, notices or waivers.
(g)
Documents and agreements evidencing other material financing
arrangements, including capital leases, synthetic leases, sale and leaseback
arrangements, installment purchases, or similar agreements.
(h)
All agreements pursuant to which the Company is or will be subject to any
obligation to provide funds to or to make investments in any other person
(in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise).
(i)
Documents and agreements relating to any guarantees by the Company or
releases of guarantees.
(j)
Bank letters or agreements confirming lines of credit, including any
amendments, renewal letters, notices, waivers, etc.
(k)
Copies of notes payable to or notes receivable from any employee,
director, affiliate, agent or stockholder of the Company outstanding at any
time during the past year. Copies of all other financing agreements
relating, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any person who is, or is
proposed to become, an officer, director, key employee, or significant
stockholder (including affiliates) of the Company (including loans, leases,
purchases and sales of property).
5.
Other Material Contracts.
(a)
Any partnership, joint venture, distributorship, franchise, licensing,
management, research and development, or similar agreements or
contracts to which the Company is a party.
(b)
Contracts with customers or suppliers.
(c)
List of the Company's 10 largest customers for the last 5 years, indicating
amounts and nature of services provided.
(d)
List of the Company's suppliers (other than suppliers of goods and
services generally required by all businesses, e.g. office supplies, utilities,
etc., unless in excess of $10,000 from an individual supplier during any
12-month period) including for each supplier, indicating the amount and
nature of products supplied.
(e)
Material agreements relating to the sale or lease of the Company's personal
property (including equipment) and any related financing arrangements.
(f)
All material warranty and service agreements.
(g)
Installment sales agreements.
(h)
Any agreement which prohibits or restricts the Company's ability to
compete in any business anywhere in any geographic area, or the
customers with which the Company may do business or the prices the
Company may charge for its services.
(i)
Any inter-company agreements between the Company and its subsidiaries.
(j)
Any agreements between the Company and its affiliates (if not already
provided pursuant to clause (i) above).
(k)
Any material purchase agreements and other significant documents
relating to any reorganization, any going private transactions, mergers,
consolidations, spin-offs or reincorporation in the past 10 years or
currently proposed.
6.
(l)
Any material purchase agreements and other significant documents
relating to any acquisitions or dispositions by the Company in the past 10
years or currently proposed.
(m)
Any indemnification agreements.
(n)
Any other material agreements or drafts of proposed material agreements
of the Company.
(o)
Details of any material negotiations currently in progress.
Management/Employees.
(a)
All corporate policy and employee manuals covering hiring, employee
benefits, regulatory compliance and internal controls.
(b)
Organizational charts of management by department and by legal entity.
(c)
Number of employees by department and by functional area.
(d)
Copies of offer letters, employment contracts, bonus guarantees, severance
agreements, change-of-control agreements, independent contractor
agreements, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, noncompetition agreements, management and consulting contracts.
(e)
Union contracts, collective bargaining agreements and a summary of any
ongoing negotiations with unions.
(f)
Documents relating to all profit sharing and savings plans, pension or
retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, retiree medical
arrangements, deferred compensation plans, severance, medical, flexible
spending, dental or other health and welfare plans and any bonus,
incentive, performance or other employee compensation/benefit plans or
arrangements and related agreements (that provide benefits to current or
former directors, officers or employees and their respective beneficiaries);
materials describing any of the foregoing or contemplated amendments;
and the applicable trust accounting, IRS determination letter(s), Form
5500 filing, plan audit reports, actuarial reports and other applicable
financial statements for the three most recent years. Summary plan
descriptions for each of the foregoing, to the extent available.
(g)
Copies of all filings and correspondence with the IRS, the DOL and the
PBGC (not covered in the preceding paragraph) made during the three
most recently completed plan years.
(h)
Copies of complaints and other material pleadings and court filings in
connection with any pending lawsuit involving any employee benefit plan
or benefits thereunder, or any such lawsuit filed within the past three
years.
(i)
Any notices or other communications issued within the past three years
relating to blackout periods under any defined contribution plan or
regarding any future reductions in medical, pension or other employee
benefit or regarding the termination of any employee benefit
arrangements.
(j)
Cost/benefit information for each current plan for the most recent plan
year, including (i) administrative costs, (ii) employer contributions, (iii)
employee contributions, and (iv) benefit distributions.
(k)
Copies of any Section 280G calculations performed with respect to
potential parachute payments.
(l)
Description of any threatened or pending labor disputes, work stoppages,
work slowdowns, walkouts, lockouts or union organizing activities.
Copies of any National Labor Review Board or US Department of Labor
filings.
(m)
Any indemnification agreements with any directors, officers, employees or
agents.
(n)
Schedule of all compensation paid during the last fiscal year to officers,
directors and key employees, showing separately salaries, bonuses and
non-cash compensation, including bonuses paid or accrued, direct or
indirect benefits or perquisites, and all benefits paid or accrued under all
employee benefit plans.
(o)
Description of commissions paid to managers, agents or other employees
of the Company.
(p)
Copies of all agreements relating to "rabbi trusts" or other arrangements
securing in any way the payment of deferred compensation, severance or
other payments to employees or directors.
(q)
A listing of all outstanding loans to employees in excess of $10,000
(including loans granted under any 401(k) plan) including the amount of
the loan, its rate of interest and whether or not it is secured.
(r)
Absenteeism, disciplinary actions, accident records and turnover rates of
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(s)
7.
Copies of any special compensation/retention arrangements in connection
with the proposed transaction.
Financial Information.
(a)
Historical financial statements for the last 3 years. Include summary of
significant accounting policies used by the Company.
(b)
Interim financial statements prepared since the end of the most recent
fiscal year.
(c)
Most recent projected financial statements (by month for current year and
projections for next 10 years) including supporting assumptions.
(d)
Management letters or special reports by auditors and any responses.
(e)
Description of and reasons for any change in accounting methods or
principles.
(f)
Detailed aging schedule for accounts receivable and accounts payable at
end of each fiscal quarter of last five years.
(g)
Detailed description of critical accounting policies, and explanation of
revenue and cost recognition methods.
(h)
Information on planned acquisitions and dispositions.
(i)
Information on bad debt reserves and unusual charges to operations for the
past 5 fiscal years.
(j)
If applicable, inventory schedule and valuation assumptions and inventory
valuation, turnover and obsolescence review.
(k)
List of fixed assets (fixed and unfixed).
(l)
Detailed description of any off-balance sheet arrangements, liabilities or
obligations of any nature (fixed or contingent, matured or unmatured) that
are not shown or otherwise provided for in the Company's current
financial statements. Please include: the nature and purpose of any such
off-balance sheet arrangements; the importance to the Company of such
arrangements; the amounts of revenue, expenses and cash flows arising
from such arrangements; and any known event, demand, commitment,
trend or uncertainty that is reasonably likely to result in the termination (or
reduction in availability to the Company) if any such arrangement and the
course of action the Company has taken or proposes to take in response to
such circumstances.
8.
(m)
Description of any non-GAAP financial measures, accompanied by the
most directly comparable GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation to
GAAP, along with the reasons for use of non-GAAP measures.
(n)
Any reports on internal accounting controls.
(o)
Detailed explanation of any change in or disagreement with auditors on
accounting and financial matters in the last 5 fiscal years.
(p)
Copies of all business plans, including a summary of any ongoing or
proposed plans for capital expenditures in excess of $100,000.
(q)
Written investment policies of the Company.
Sales and Marketing.
(a)
List of third party developers showing total and type of project for each
developer during the last and current fiscal years and forms of agreements
entered into with third party developers.
(b)
List of the Company's competitors.
(c)
Pertinent market research or marketing studies (including any studies or
reports relied on or commissioned or prepared by the Company).
(d)
Any recent analyses of the Company prepared by investment bankers,
engineers, management consultants, auditors or others.
(e)
Recent presentations to industry, trade or investment groups.
(f)
Marketing and sales literature and forms, including price lists, catalogs,
purchase orders, technical manuals, user manuals, etc.
(g)
Marketing agreements and material agency and advertising contracts.
(h)
All agreements or proposed agreements with distributors, dealers and sales
representatives.
(i)
Describe warranty and return policies and procedures. Include any related
written materials and any documents creating any express or implied
warranties with respect to products manufactured or distributed by the
Company.
(j)
9.
10.
Distribution agreements.
Real Property.
(a)
List of real property owned by the Company, including size, location and
use of each parcel. Provide documents of title, title insurance, mortgages,
deeds of trust, leases and security agreements for these properties.
(b)
Any appraisals or surveys of the Company's real property obtained within
the past 3 years.
(c)
Outstanding leases for real property to which the Company is either a
lessor or lessee, including ground leases and subleases, estoppel
certificates and related subordination or non-disturbance agreements.
(d)
Any option or development agreements involving real property to which
the Company is a party.
(e)
Certificates of occupancy relating to any real property owned or leased by
the Company.
(f)
List of all material encroachments, liens, easements or other encumbrances
on any real property owned or leased by the Company.
Intellectual Property.
(a)
List of US and foreign patents and patent applications held by the
Company, indicating in each case, as applicable, the dates of invention,
application, issue, reexamination and reissue, and all related prosecution
files.
(b)
List of US and foreign copyright (and mask work) registrations and
applications held by the Company, indicating in each case, as applicable,
the dates of authorship, publication, application, registration and renewal,
and all related documents and files.
(c)
List of US and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names and domain
names used, held or registered by the Company, including applications for
registration of each of the foregoing filed by the Company, indicating in
each case, as applicable, the date of first use, application, registration and
renewal, and all related prosecution files.
(d)
List of proprietary technology and processes and other trade secrets
controlled or used by the Company in its business operations.
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11.
(e)
All agreements and proposed agreements pursuant to which any
intellectual property is assigned or licensed to the Company by any third
party, including policy documents and agreements with present and former
employees and contractors involved in creating any intellectual property
on the Company's behalf.
(f)
All agreements and proposed agreements pursuant to which any
intellectual property is assigned or licensed by the Company to any third
party.
(g)
Any correspondence from third parties regarding alleged or potential
infringement by the Company of intellectual property rights of others, and
any freedom-of-use advice and opinions of legal counsel.
(h)
Any research and development or joint venture agreements relating to
product, process or technology research, development and testing to which
the Company is a party.
(i)
Any nondisclosure agreements, settlement agreements, releases, covenants
not to sue and other agreements relating to intellectual property of the
Company.
(j)
Description of any past, current or pending threats, claims or litigation
brought by or against the Company alleging infringement of intellectual
property of the Company or a third party.
IT Systems and Networks.
(a)
Is the Company's IT and network environment primarily Windows-based?
What other platforms are supported?
(b)
Provide a list of all Company sites (office, data center, etc.) with network
and e-mail connectivity. Include type of business at site(s) (operations,
sales, development, and call center), approximate head count and the
circuit size.
(c)
List any additional Company sites not directly connected to a WAN.
(d)
Describe any external connectivity (e.g. employee remote access, partners,
vendors) including firewalls and third-party data connections.
(e)
Provide details of the Company's website hosting environment (location,
number of servers and service level).
(f)
Describe the Company's e-mail and calendaring systems.
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12.
(g)
What internal business systems and applications are supported and what
platforms do they run on? Examples include Finance, Human Resources,
Sales, Operations and CRM.
(h)
Is the Company's customer or partner facing data center environment
primarily Windows-based? What other platforms are supported?
(i)
Describe the Company's website and web services security policies and
procedures including firewalls and incoming and outgoing traffic access
points. Describe front end connectivity to other network tiers.
(j)
Describe any connections between the Company's website/web service to
your internal office network. What are these connections used for
(protocols, file transfer, code distribution, etc.)? Describe the volume of
traffic using these connections.
(k)
Provide details of the Company's website/web services hosting
environment (location and service level). Include copies of contracts, work
orders and invoices for any third party data center services.
(l)
List approximate number of customer or partner facing servers in each
datacenter location including type (web/file, IIS or SQL), OS, typical
make/model and configuration. Provide documentation of any existing
hardware standards.
(m)
What is the Company's website/web services data back-up solution and
disaster recovery process in place?
(n)
Does the Company's website/web service use encryption?
(o)
List of any third party IT and network service providers and fulfillment
vendors utilized by the Company for the sale and/or distribution of
product.
(p)
Describe the Company's operational interactions with customers, how they
work, who owns the various relationships, and how those relationships are
maintained.
Environmental.
(a)
Description of any toxic chemicals used in production and manner of
storage and disposition.
(b)
Description of any Environmental Protection Act, Toxic Substances
Control Act or other investigation or claim.
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13.
14.
(c)
Environmental surveys, site assessments or reports (including copies of
any Phase I and Phase II reports) concerning any real property currently or
formerly owned or leased by the Company.
(d)
Environmental, health and safety compliance verification reports (e.g.
compliance audits) and quality assurance documents.
(e)
Copies of any internal reports or memoranda prepared by the Company or
third parties relating to hazardous materials, health and safety or other
environmental matters.
(f)
Correspondence, memoranda, notes or notices of violation from foreign,
federal, state or local environmental, health and safety authorities.
(g)
Any "potentially responsible party" letters or other similar notices or
requests for information from any governmental or regulatory authority.
Governmental Regulations and Filing.
(a)
Summary of material inquiries by any foreign, federal, state or local
governmental agency.
(b)
Copies of all contracts between the Company and any foreign or domestic
government (including regulatory bodies and other agencies with
governmental authority).
(c)
Status of foreign and domestic government contracts subject to
renegotiation.
(d)
Material foreign and domestic governmental permits, licenses and
certificates which the Company holds and current status.
(e)
List and description of all permits necessary for the Company to operate
its business in the ordinary course.
(f)
Material filings made and significant correspondence by the Company
with any state, federal or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies
since the Company's inception.
(g)
Any franchise filings and all material correspondence relating to the
filings.
Litigation and Audits.
(a)
List of all litigation for past 5 years.
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15.
(b)
Letters from counsel sent to auditors for year end for the past 5 years and
current interim audits.
(c)
Current list of all litigation, administrative or regulatory proceedings,
investigations or governmental actions involving the Company or its
business with a brief description of the claim for each matter. Include
name of court or agency in which the litigation proceeding is pending, date
instituted, docket number and principal parties to the action.
(d)
Description of currently threatened litigation, legal claims, regulatory
actions or other actions or proceedings, including any correspondence
relating to any threatened governmental investigation or alleged violation
of law or regulation.
(e)
Any currently effective consent decrees, judgments, other decrees or
orders, settlement agreements and other similar agreements to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets is bound
(or to which any stockholder of the Company is a party or by which any
such stockholder or any of its assets is bound and which relates, directly or
indirectly, to the Company).
(f)
Correspondence, memoranda or notes concerning inquiries from
governmental tax authorities, occupational safety, health and hazard
officials, environmental officials or authorities regarding equal
opportunities violations, antitrust violations, or violations of any other law,
rule or regulation.
(g)
Description of any warranty claims that have been made against the
Company, any subsidiary, or any partnership or joint venture and the
resolution of such claim.
Insurance.
(a)
A schedule of all policies or binders of insurance or self-insurance
arrangements, including medical, workers compensation, disability,
automobile, general liability, fire and casualty, products liability,
professional liability, business interruption, officers' and directors' liability
and key-man life insurance, with deductibles, coverage limits, and other
significant terms. Please indicate the name and address of all insurance
agents, brokers and companies.
(b)
A schedule of insurance claims in excess of $50,000 over the last 5 years,
and summary of loss history for such period.
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16.
(c)
Analysis of premium payments for the past 3 years and details regarding
any cancellations or denials of insurance during this period.
(d)
Summary of self-insurance programs or other risk retention.
(e)
A schedule of threatened or potential claims.
Taxes.
(a)
Federal, state, local and foreign tax returns for all open tax years,
including sales, property, franchise, payroll, excise, withholding and
capital tax returns and consolidated returns of the Company. Copies of tax
elections, consents, agreements or waivers (other than as attached to tax
returns).
(b)
Information with respect to any foreign, Internal Revenue Service, state or
local tax examination or audit of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries'
or their respective predecessor's returns and the results of each audit.
(c)
Copies of all documents relating to pending tax litigation or any appeals
process or hearing.
(d)
Correspondence between the Company and the Internal Revenue Service
or any foreign or state or local tax authority.
(e)
Description of any undertakings given by the Company to tax authorities
or any special tax rulings or agreements arranged with tax authorities.
(f)
Copies of any and all tax sharing, tax allocation or inter-company
agreements relating, in whole or in part, to the Company.
(g)
Description of any preferred tax status or tax benefit which may be
adversely affected by the proposed acquisition and any related
transactions, including a summary of any available tax attribute carryforwards.
(h)
Information to analyze tax positions taken in connection with acquisitions,
dispositions, restructurings, reorganizations, or the like and any tax
strategies in connection with any transactions currently proposed including
any ongoing tax indemnities.
(i)
Any notices, elections, or other correspondence with foreign, federal, state
and local tax authorities regarding the reorganization of the Company and
its predecessors to the extent material.
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(j)
Copies of correspondence from outside tax advisors and accountants for
the past three years.
(k)
Copies of any tax provision work papers and memos supporting
calculations and risks.
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