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VerSquare
Reverse Due Diligence

Know Who’s BuyingYour Business

Private equity firms and holding companies spend months investigating your financials, your customers, your operations. Who investigates them? We research the fund, the partners, and their track record across prior acquisitions - so you enter the most important transaction of your life with clarity, not faith.

Start an InquirySee Our Methodology
7Evaluation Dimensions
4Evidence Classifications
360°Concentric-Circle Research
What We Evaluate

A Structured Assessment Across Seven Dimensions

Will They Close?

  • Deal Execution Reliability - Retrade history, busted deals, timeline adherence, behavior under pressure
  • Financial Capacity - Committed capital, lender relationships, financing structure, proof of funds

How Will They Behave?

  • Terms & Governance Track Record - Earnout dispute rates, working capital approach, indemnification patterns
  • Post-Close Stewardship - Hold periods, management turnover, employee retention, brand continuity

What Do Others Say?

  • Seller & Stakeholder References - Former seller interviews, lender checks, intermediary reputation
  • Legal & Regulatory Standing - Litigation history, regulatory actions, enforcement patterns
  • People & Decision-Making - IC composition, partner stability, operating partner involvement

We don't just ask the buyer - we verify outward through former sellers, lenders, intermediaries, and public records to build an objective picture. Every finding is classified by evidence source.

This service is for

Business owners who have received a letter of intent (LOI) or expression of interest from a private equity fund, holding company, or institutional acquirer with prior transaction history.

This is not

A background check, credit report, or automated screening. This is analyst-conducted research requiring buyer cooperation. Individual buyers without institutional backing may have limited research scope.

How It Works

From inquiry to evidence-classified report in four steps.

  1. 01

    Submit an Inquiry

    Tell us about your situation and the buyer you'd like researched. We respond within one business day.

  2. 02

    Scope the Engagement

    A short call to understand your deal, timeline, and priorities. We define the research plan and agree on scope together.

  3. 03

    We Conduct the Research

    Our assessment expands outward in concentric circles. We start with the buyer - structured interviews and requested documentation. Then we go wider: former sellers, management teams, and operating partners. Then wider still: lenders, intermediaries, and advisors in their deal network. Throughout, we cross-reference against public records, litigation databases, and observable portfolio company data.

  4. 04

    Receive Your Report

    A comprehensive, evidence-classified assessment delivered with a debrief call to walk through the findings and answer your questions.

VerSquare is not a licensed broker, lender, or financial advisor. VerSquare does not originate, fund, service, or broker loans, and does not recommend or endorse any provider listed on the platform.

Get Started

Start With a Conversation

Tell us about your situation. We'll follow up within one business day.

We'll use this to prepare for your consultation call.

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy. We'll use your information to respond to your inquiry only.

Confirmation within 24 hours30-minute scoping callResearch takes 4-6 weeks

Are you the buyer?

Institutional buyers can commission a report on themselves as a trust credential. Select “Institutional buyer seeking a trust credential” in the form above.

FAQ

Common Questions

Who is this service for?
Business owners who have received a letter of intent (LOI) or expression of interest from a private equity fund, holding company, or institutional acquirer. The service is most valuable when the buyer has a portfolio of prior acquisitions, fund governance, and a track record that can be independently verified. Search funds with committed capital also benefit. Individual buyers without institutional backing may have a more limited research scope - we can discuss fit on the scoping call.
What if the buyer won't cooperate?
We require buyer participation as part of the process. If a prospective buyer refuses to engage with a reasonable, structured evaluation, that refusal is itself informative and will be noted in our findings.
How long does the research take?
Typically four to six weeks from the point the buyer agrees to participate. Timeline is driven primarily by the need to coordinate schedules, conduct interviews, and arrange site visits where applicable.
Is my inquiry confidential?
Yes. We do not contact the prospective buyer or any third parties until you have completed a scoping call and explicitly authorized us to proceed. Your inquiry alone triggers no outreach.
What if I already have an M&A advisor?
Reverse due diligence complements existing advisory relationships. Your attorney or broker focuses on deal terms and structure. We provide an independent perspective on the buyer's track record, reputation, and operational history that advisory teams typically do not investigate.
What's in the report?
The report evaluates institutional buyers across seven dimensions organized into three themes: Will They Close, How Will They Behave, and What Do Others Say. It covers fund structure and governance, portfolio company outcomes, former seller references, deal execution patterns, and legal standing. Every finding is classified by evidence strength so you can distinguish verified facts from informed assessments.
Reverse Due Diligence | Know Who's Buying Your Business | VerSquare | VerSquare