Transactions / Insights
A cross-border deal starts with the right questions
What to agree before the first draft of a contract changes hands.
Start with the objective
Buying a shareholding, individual assets or an entire business are different tasks. Before due diligence begins, describe precisely what is being acquired, which companies are involved and where the assets are located. A shared statement of the commercial objective helps the team distinguish essential issues from peripheral ones.
Documents and unanswered questions
Organise information into ownership, key contracts, asset rights, employees and disputes. Record both the documents received and the information that still needs to be requested. Assign an owner to each open question so missing material does not quietly disappear from the decision process.
From review to agreement
Every material issue needs a practical response: further investigation, an action before completion or an agreed contractual provision. This turns a diligence report into a decision-making tool. Keep the closing checklist aligned with the findings and revisit it when the deal structure changes.
Keep the closing plan visible
Create a single list of approvals, signatures, documents and dependencies. Identify which steps must occur together and which can follow completion. An organised handover is as important as a well-drafted agreement.
The practical takeaway
Start with a clear objective, organise the information and turn open questions into concrete next steps.
This publication provides a general perspective, not advice on a particular matter. Applicable requirements should be reviewed for the relevant jurisdictions and circumstances.
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