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 and supported by Farrer & Co., 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.
*Attendance is open to senior leaders from PIMFA full member firms and FCA-regulated firms. To help maintain the integrity of the discussion, PIMFA may review registrations and reserves the right to decline attendance where the eligibility criteria are not met.
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
Partners
Grant Thornton UK LLP
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
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