Part 1: The killer questions

1. Is there a hidden deal-killer?

The risk

In high-volume M&A, you need to filter toxic assets fast to save fees.

Manual workflow

Relying on different outside counsel for every deal results in inconsistent reporting formats and missed risks.

Colabra workflow

Use Colabra's confirmatory diligence template. This pre-set task list ensures every deal is vetted against the same criteria (e.g. "litigation check", "change of control check"). You get a consistent view of risk across every target in the pipeline.

2. Will the founder compete?

The risk

The founder takes the cash and opens a competitor next door.

Manual workflow

Reading employment contracts one by one to check non-compete geography.

Colabra workflow

Colabra's AI extraction pulls non-compete terms (duration, geography, scope) from founder agreements. You can instantly verify if the restrictions are sufficient to protect the goodwill you are buying.

3. Are we missing the basics?

The risk

Small targets often have messy record-keeping. Missing tax returns or unsigned board minutes are common.

Manual workflow

Manually checking the index against a request list.

Colabra workflow

Colabra's gap analysis compares the data room content against your standard requirements list. We visually highlight the missing documents—"missing 2023 tax return"—so you can push back on the seller immediately.

Part 2: The war story

The $8.8B write-down

Case study: HP's acquisition of Autonomy

A key failure in the HP/Autonomy disaster was the inability to reconcile Autonomy's confusing mix of hardware and software sales with HP's reporting standards. HP eventually took an $8.8 billion write-down.

Colabra fix

The lack of standardized, forensic integration diligence allowed accounting mismatches to survive. Colabra's standardized playbooks enforce a consistent audit across every target, ensuring accounting policies match the platform standard before you sign.