M&A Due Diligence: Getting It Right Before (and After) the Deal
London, EC2M 7EA United Kingdom
Synergies stall.
Costs rise.
Regulatory issues emerge.
Value leaks.
In 2026, due diligence is no longer a technical exercise. It is a strategic capability and a competitive advantage.
In this high-impact, half-day session led by Grant Thornton, senior deal leaders will unpack how acquiring firms are upgrading financial, regulatory, operational and technology due diligence to protect margin, reduce risk and accelerate growth.
Why attend?
This is a practical, peer-led session focused on real-world outcomes, not theory. We will explore:
• Where due diligence typically breaks down in wealth and advice transactions
• The hidden risks that only emerge post-completion
• How strong due diligence protects deal value and improves supervisory confidence
• The operational and technology challenges that undermine synergy cases
• What leading firms are doing differently in 2026
You will also hear directly from senior industry leaders on the questions they wish they had asked before signing.
30/04/2026
Arrival and Networking Breakfast
Arrival, registration, informal networking
Opening Remarks by PIMFA
- Why due diligence is now a board-level risk discipline, not a transactional checkbox
- The cost of poor DD: operational drag, regulatory exposure, and client harm
- What firms should leave with today
Keynote: What Separates Good Deals from Bad Outcomes
Delivered by Grant Thornton. Key focuses:
- Where DD typically breaks down in wealth & asset management deals
- The gaps that only emerge post-completion
- What “deal readiness” really means in 2026
Parallel Breakout Sessions: Deep-Dive Due Diligence
Breakout A: Financial & Tax Due Diligence Led by Grant Thornton
• Quality of earnings in advisory businesses
• Hidden liabilities and cost base assumptions
• Integration risks that undermine synergy cases
• What CFOs wish they had pushed harder on pre-deal
Breakout B: Regulatory & Legal Due Diligence Led by Farrer & Co.
• SM&CR, Consumer Duty, and regulatory perimeter risks
• Historical issues that resurface post-acquisition
• Where poor regulatory DD directly leads to remediation and client harm
• CRO and Compliance-led perspectives
Networking Break
- Informal discussion across breakout groups
- Opportunity to cross-pollinate insights between finance, risk, and operations
Seller & PE Reality Check: What DD Really Feels Like
Contributors:
- 1 recent seller (wealth/advice firm principal)
- 1 PE deal lead (buy-side perspective)
- Moderated by PIMFA
Discussion Themes:
- What caught you off guard during DD?
- Where did the process become most adversarial?
- What nearly derailed the deal?
- How did regulatory or operational findings shift valuation?
- What would you prepare differently next time?
- How did culture and leadership scrutiny feel in practice?
Panel: Operational & Technology Due Diligence — Where Deals Really Succeed or Fail
Discussion Themes:
• Operational complexity hidden during DD
• Technology and data integration risk
• Where assumptions collapse post-completion
• How weak operational DD translates into regulatory exposure
Live audience Q&A
FCA Close: Regulatory Expectations of Due Diligence
• What the FCA expects firms to evidence during DD
• Real examples where poor DD led to client harm
• How strong DD improves consumer outcomes and supervisory confidence
• Audience Q&A
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
- Key takeaways for boards and deal teams
- What “good” DD looks like across finance, regulation, operations, and tech
- How firms should prepare for their next transaction, not the last one