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Transaction services

Carrying out financial, tax, vendor, commercial and operational due diligence.

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Topical articles

electric computer cables in a row virtual data rooms
Insight: virtual data rooms
  • Article
  • 10 Sep 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Virtual data rooms are now almost universally used in M&A transactions. Jason Sinclair looks at how to choose the right one for you.
deep sea scuba diver swimming in a dark underwater cave blue
Trendwatch: travel
  • Article
  • 10 Sep 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Transaction activity in the travel sector is heating up as trade buyers and private equity firms see the industry returning to pre-COVID-19 levels and get back to the business of doing deals. Nicholas Neveling reports.
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Book review: Living with the Algorithm
  • Article
  • 09 Jul 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Artificial intelligence is getting real. Jason Sinclair speaks to former faculty board member and AI expert Lord Clement-Jones about his myth-busting new book.
Glasgow, Scotland, Clyde Arc bridge city river dusk evening lights glowing on water reflection
Roadshow: Scottish rainmaking
  • Article
  • 09 Jul 2024
  • Corporate Financier
M&A in Scotland has been subdued, but with interest rates tipped to fall and greater clarity on the political road post-election, corporate financiers and investors are upbeat.
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Interviews and profiles

Daniel Jonas, transaction services partner at Azets
On my CV: Daniel Jonas, Azets
  • Article
  • 11 Oct 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Daniel Jonas, transaction services partner at Azets, says being clear with vendors is key to keeping things moving in a deal.
Shivani Kotecha, transaction services manager, BDO. Young asian woman head resting in hand city in background
Career paths: Shivani Kotecha, BDO
  • Article
  • 09 Apr 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Working on complex transactions is something that Shivani Kotecha relishes at BDO. She tells Jo Russell about her corporate finance journey so far and what might be in store for the future.
Amy Murphy, a corporate finance manager based at FRP Advisory’s Manchester office
Career paths: Amy Murphy, FRP Advisory
  • Article
  • 11 Mar 2024
  • Corporate Financier
The ACA has given Amy Murphy a springboard to a career in transactions. Now a corporate finance manager based at FRP Advisory’s Manchester office, she talks to Jo Russell about her role and her plans.
Laura Mott partner haysmacintyre, co-head of transaction advisory services
Profile: Laura Mott, haysmacintyre
  • Article
  • 12 Feb 2024
  • Corporate Financier
Putting people first is key to success, says Laura Mott, co-head of transaction advisory services at haysmacintyre, where team effort and collaboration are an essential part of the company culture.
Flora Foreman supervisor transaction advisory services haysmacintyre young woman
Career paths: Fiona Foreman, haysmacintyre
  • Article
  • 09 Nov 2023
  • Corporate Financier
Flora Foreman of haysmacintyre hedged her bets at university, taking a degree in economics and art history. In the end, a career in finance won the day and after she passed her ACA she opted for advising on deals.
Darra McCarthy-Paul ACA Quantuma assistant manager Corporate Financier career paths
Career paths: Darra McCarthy-Paul, Quantuma
  • Article
  • 11 Oct 2023
  • Corporate Financier
Qualified as an ACA and moving into transaction services by the age of 23, Darra McCarthy-Paul, an assistant manager at Quantuma, tells Jo Russell about setting off on her career path early.
Steve Hubbard RSM M&A and private equity team ICAEW Corporate Financier On my CV
On my CV: Steve Hubbard, RSM
  • Article
  • 12 May 2023
  • Corporate Financier
International reach and local knowledge are both essential when advising on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, says RSM corporate finance partner Steve Hubbard.
Corporate Financier image
Career paths: Sarah Gilbey
  • Article
  • 15 Nov 2021
  • Corporate Financier
Sarah Gilby, ESG technical director at Anthesis, has seen the development of environmental advisory on transactions grow and grow over her 25-year career.

Practical guidance

Read the Corporate Finance Faculty's good practice guidelines and technical releases on transaction services and other aspects of corporate finance.
Definition and types of AI landing page
AI in corporate finance
  • Hub page
  • 23 Sep 2024
The Corporate Finance Faculty have brought together insights and resources on how AI is being used in corporate finance to help you better understand the application benefits and risks, as well as the practical considerations as you begin to revolutionise how deals are done.
Man holding a tablet
Financial due diligence
  • Report
  • 22 Oct 2024
This guideline explores the what, why, who and how of performing effective financial due diligence (FDD) and the outcomes it should achieve. It considers how FDD interacts with other areas of due diligence and how today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, including AI, is reshaping the FDD process.
Cyber security in corporate finance
Cyber Security in Corporate Finance
  • Report
  • 31 Jan 2024
Cyber Security in Corporate Finance aims to help organisations manage cyber risk and improve its governance, setting out good practice within the context of a corporate finance transaction.
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Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service

Eligible firms have free access to Bloomsbury Professional's comprehensive online library, comprising around 80 titles from some of the country's leading tax and accounting subject matter experts. Find out who is eligible and how you can access the Accounting and Tax Service.

Tax Planning for Family and Owner-Managed Companies 2024/25 book cover
Exclusive Making a business acquisition
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • Peter Rayney
  • Tax Planning for Family and Owner-managed Companies
Advice on the typical process for making a business acquisition, written for anyone who advises or runs a family or owner-managed company. Includes an overview of agreeing outline terms, carrying out a due diligence investigation and the tax due diligence process.
Beswick and Wine: Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
Exclusive Due diligence
  • eBook chapter
  • 2022
  • Susan Singleton
  • Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
A chapter on due diligence in this step-by-step guide to the sale and purchase process of shares or assets. The chapter is written from the purchaser's perspective and covers the main areas for investigation by the purchaser's solicitors.
Beswick and Wine: Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
Exclusive Precedent E - Due diligence request
  • eBook chapter
  • 2022
  • Susan Singleton
  • Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
A sample due diligence request, suitable for use by a purchaser in connection with their legal due diligence. Applicable (with modification) for both share purchases and business transfers. This due diligence request is an indicative draft only and should be tailored to suit the particular circumstances of the target company/business.
Beswick and Wine: Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
Exclusive Buying and selling technology businesses
  • eBook chapter
  • 2022
  • Susan Singleton
  • Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
A chapter on the process of buying and selling technology businesses, in this step-by-step guide to the sale and purchase process, focusing on key commercial, tax and legal issues.
Beswick and Wine: Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
Exclusive Buy-outs
  • eBook chapter
  • 2022
  • Susan Singleton
  • Buying and Selling Private Companies and Businesses
A chapter on buyouts in this step-by-step guide to the sale and purchase process, focusing on key commercial, tax and legal issues. Topics covered include: conflict of interests; due diligence; shareholder consent; tax considerations.
Automatic Exchange of Information Handbook
Exclusive Automatic exchange of information handbook
  • eBook
  • 2021
  • John Hiddleston, Azets
  • Automatic Exchange of Information Handbook
A practical guide to the automatic exchange of information rules legislation within the UK, covering the requirements of the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the Acceptable usage terms.

eBooks

The Library & Information Service provides a collection of eBooks as a benefit of membership. Please log in to access these titles. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Acquisitions 2024
  • eBook
  • 2024
  • University of Law
Provides an introduction to the legal and taxation implications of buying and selling a business enterprise.
Exclusive Due diligence, warranties and indemnities
  • eBook chapter
  • 2022
  • Susan Singleton
  • Joint Ventures and Shareholders Agreements
A chapter on due diligence, warranties and indemnities in relation to joint ventures and shareholders' agreements. Written from a UK standpoint, it discusses what will generally be required in different circumstances.
Exclusive Essentials of M&A: due diligence
  • eBook
  • 2017
  • Peter Howson
This book is a must for anyone who needs to master the essentials of due diligence with the minimum effort and in the minimum amount of time. Straightforward and unbiased, it sets out the fundamentals of pre-acquisition investigations, showing which are appropriate and why.
Exclusive Checklists for due diligence
  • eBook
  • 2016
  • Peter Howson
Contains checklists covering the legal, financial and commercial aspects of due diligence, as well as other areas such as IT, intellectual property, and environmental risks. Each checklist includes a short introduction providing guidance on best use.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

Articles and books in the ICAEW Library collection

The collection of the ICAEW Library & Information Service includes a range of articles, books and reports covering matters relating to transaction services. A selection of recent books is set out below.
The sale of shares and businesses: law, practice and agreements, 7th ed.
  • Library book
  • 2024
  • C. Graham
  • Sweet & Maxwell
A comprehensive guide to selling and buying businesses in England and Wales. Contains a full set of precedents, including a range of model asset and share purchase agreements.
Private equity: a transactional analysis
  • Library book
  • 2024
  • C. Hale (ed.)
  • Globe Law and Business
A practical introduction to the world of private equity. Contributing authors explore the key ingredients of private equity transactions and the technical issues associated with them.
Buying and selling private companies and businesses
  • Library book
  • 2022
  • S. Singleton
  • Bloomsbury Professional
This book provides detailed coverage of the key commercial, tax and legal issues relating to business sales, from the perspective of both the seller and the purchaser. Covers the full sales process, from due diligence through to completion of the share purchase or business transfer agreement.
Buying and selling insolvent companies and businesses
  • Library book
  • 2022
  • K.Titchen
  • Bloomsbury Professional
A comprehensive guide to the sale and purchase of insolvent companies or businesses for insolvency practitioners and other professionals involved in insolvency, including lawyers, accountants, company directors and company secretaries.
A practitioner's guide to trade and commodity finance, 2nd ed.
  • Library book
  • 2022
  • G. Wynne (ed.)
  • Sweet & Maxwell
This book examines all aspects of trade and commodity financing, from pre-export financing to enforcement of security and insolvency issues. The authors consider the risks and risk management methods involved, along with issues around regulation and due diligence. It includes discussion of Islamic financing techniques.
Corporate acquisitions and mergers in the United Kingdom
  • Library book
  • 2021
  • N. von Bismarck
  • Wolters Kluwer
A concise guide to law and practice relating to mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies in the United Kingdom. From the perspectives of both purchaser and seller, it considers key topics such as structuring the transaction, due diligence, and contractual protection.

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.

Further resources

Helpsheet
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Support for due diligence

Being able to understand and evaluate a prospective acquisition, buyer or partner is essential to any growing company in today’s business environment.

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Some of the content on this web page was provided by the Chartered Accountants’ Trust for Education and Research, a registered charity, which owns the library and operates it for ICAEW.