Corporate Due Diligence Investigations for M&A, Counsel, and Capital
Every transaction depends on what the other side has not disclosed. Wasser Investigations conducts pre-deal corporate due diligence for South Florida private equity firms, M&A counsel, in-house legal teams, and capital partners who need a factual picture of the target's principals, ownership structure, litigation history, and reputation before signing.
Since 1985, our investigations have surfaced undisclosed lawsuits, hidden ownership ties, regulatory issues, and reputational exposures that would have changed deal terms or killed transactions if discovered post-close.
Diligence We Conduct
Corporate due diligence is rarely a single line of research. A typical engagement combines several investigative work streams, scoped to the transaction size, target profile, and risk appetite:
Principal and executive background investigations
Covering education, employment history, prior business affiliations, and undisclosed entities.
Civil and criminal litigation history
At federal, state, and county level.
Regulatory and licensing review
Including SEC, FINRA, state attorney general, and industry-specific bodies.
Bankruptcy, judgment, lien, and UCC filing analysis
Beneficial ownership and corporate structure mapping
Including shell entity identification and related-party network analysis.
Media, reputation, and adverse-information searches
Across English and Spanish-language sources.
Sanctions, PEP, and watchlist screening
For international counterparties.
Operational footprint verification
Including physical address, employee presence, and represented business activity.
Where Pre-Deal Investigation Matters Most
Some transactions get a standard background check and move forward. Others need a full investigative workup. The cases where corporate due diligence consistently changes outcomes:
- Acquisitions and minority investments where principals have limited public track record
- Joint ventures with operators in jurisdictions where public records are incomplete
- International transactions involving counterparties in Latin America, the Caribbean, or other regions where Wasser has direct field experience
- Fund formation and LP due diligence on prospective GPs and sponsors
- Pre-litigation investigation on opposing parties when settlement strategy depends on understanding their financial reality
- Vendor and counterparty diligence in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, government contracting)
Network Mapping and Beneficial Ownership
Most corporate diligence failures come from incomplete network mapping. A subject who appears clean at the surface may have prior business affiliations, related-party transactions, or hidden ownership in entities that carry exposure. We map the full network, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, family members in adjacent entities, and known associates appearing in the same corporate filings, until the structure is documented and understood.
For international targets, this work extends to jurisdictions where ownership is intentionally obscured. Our field network and document research methodology surfaces what surface-level checks miss.
Deliverables Built for the Deal Team
Reports are structured for legal review and direct use in deal decisions. Each engagement produces:
- An executive summary identifying material findings and risk areas
- Detailed source documentation for every finding, with citations to court records, filings, and primary sources
- Network and ownership diagrams where corporate structure is complex
- Recommended areas for representations, warranties, or escrow protection
- Counsel-formatted appendices for use in deal documentation and disclosure schedules
Why South Florida Deal Teams Work With Us
South Florida transactions often involve cross-border counterparties, Latin American operators, and principals whose public records are split across jurisdictions and languages. Forty years of operating in this market means we know which sources are reliable, which jurisdictions require field verification, and which patterns indicate undisclosed risk. Deal teams get a documented investigative file, direct access to the investigator, and timelines built around the transaction schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this differ from a standard background check?
Standard background checks are database queries. Corporate due diligence is investigation. We work primary records, court filings, regulatory sources, and field verification, then map findings against the deal structure. The deliverable is a documented factual picture, not a database printout.
How long does a corporate due diligence engagement take?
Scope dictates timeline. A focused principal background can resolve in 5 to 10 business days. A full pre-acquisition diligence on a complex target with cross-border ownership can take 3 to 6 weeks. Rush timelines for live deals are accommodated.
Can you investigate international counterparties?
Yes. We have direct experience with Latin American and Caribbean jurisdictions and operate through a vetted international network for engagements outside our direct coverage area. Reporting is structured for use by U.S. deal teams.
How are findings reported during a live deal?
Material findings are communicated to deal counsel in real time as they surface, not held for a final report. Final deliverables include an executive summary, source documentation, and recommended deal-document protections.
Who is the engagement structured through, the law firm or the principal?
Most corporate diligence engagements run through outside counsel for work-product protection. Direct engagement with in-house legal or principals is also available depending on the deal structure.
For a confidential conversation about a current or upcoming transaction.
Initial scoping discussions are direct, attorney- or principal-to-investigator, and at no charge.
Call (305) 278-8700LICENSED FLORIDA AGENCY #A3200002