The AMA Handbook of Due Diligence
by William M. Crilly and Andrew J. Sherman

What is "Due Diligence"? "Due diligence" is a process whereby an individual, or an organization, seeks sufficient information about a business entity to reach an informed judgement as to its value for a specific purpose.

Situations Calling For Due Diligence

Due diligence is performed in a wide variety of situations, e.g.:

• By a firm considering a potential acquisition.
• By an investment banker considering underwriting a public security offering or promoting a private placement.
• By a banker considering the making of a loan.
• By a venture capitalist considering an investment.
• By a lawyer preparing an offering statement or a merger proposal for a client.
• By an appraiser who has been retained to estimate the value of a business unit.
• By a business broker offering a company for sale.
• By a public accounting firm in conjunction with an audit performed at the request of a potential buyer or in support of a security offering.
• By a security analyst preparing a buy, hold or sell recommendation on a public security.

The due diligence investigation is normally carried out with the knowledge and cooperation of the management of the entity being investigated.

COMPLETELY NEW edition of the most comprehensive due diligence guide ever published -- now with customizable forms on CD!

Includes a CD-ROM that provides instant access to over 400 forms and templates!

The AMA Handbook of Due Diligence is the most complete guide available on how to properly perform a due diligence investigation -- and radically improve the success rate of a pending corporate merger or acquisition. The new edition of this long-trusted resource includes a CD-ROM packed with almost 400 customizable forms and templates for recording and analyzing every possible operational or financial activity at any organization.

Extensively revised and updated, the book reflects significant changes in the financial landscape such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There are specialized sections on joint ventures, franchises, and outsourcing, as well as new legal memo and form requirements, including data room index, preliminary diligence memorandum, and the Hart-Scott-Rodino questionnaire. Thorough and easy to use, this essential resource will ensure that every “t” is crossed, every “i” dotted . . . and no mistakes left out on the table.

About The Authors:

Andrew J. Sherman, is the author of several books, including The AMA Handbook of Due Diligence, Harvesting Intangible Assets, Mergers and Acquisitions from A to Z, Raising Capital, and Franchising and Licensing. He is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day and a top-rated Adjunct Professor in the MBA and Executive MBA programs at the University of Maryland. An internationally recognized authority on the legal and strategic aspects of business growth, he is frequently called upon by the media to share his expertise. He has been featured or quoted in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, Entrepreneur, U.S. News & World Report, and other prestigious publications.

William M. Crilly, co-author of The AMA Handbook of Due Diligence, was the chairman and founder of Newport Pacific Associates, a firm that assisted companies in arranging mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his business career Mr. Crilly led numerous acquisitions, divestitures, and public and private financing activities, all of which required rigorous due diligence investigations. As a top management official of several public companies, he was responsible for formulating final recommendations to the companies' boards of directors. Mr. Crilly served in executive positions at Eastern airlines, Pan American World Airways, Riegal Paper, and Bowmar Instrument Corporation.

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