ServiceDue Diligence
Pre-investment and promoter due diligence
Before you invest, lend or acquire, know who is really behind the company: the promoters, their group, their money and their record.
When to call us
Before the money moves
You are about to invest
A PE fund, family office or strategic investor needs an independent view of the promoters before the term sheet becomes a cheque.
You are buying a company
Financial and legal diligence covers the target. We cover the people who built it, and what they may not have disclosed.
You are sanctioning a large exposure
Before a bank or NBFC lends, we check the borrower group, its promoters and where earlier money went.
You are advising on a deal
M&A advisers and law firms bring us in when a counterparty’s story needs to be tested independently.
What we do
What we check
Scoped to the deal and the deadline. Every finding is sourced, so you can rely on it and act on it.
Promoters and their group
Every company, firm and trust connected to the promoters and their families, including the ones that do not appear in the information memorandum.
Related parties and the money trail
How money has moved between the target and the promoter group, and whether past funding was used as stated.
Litigation and regulatory record
Court cases, insolvency proceedings, regulatory orders, tax disputes, sanctions and politically exposed links, in India and abroad.
Reputation on the ground
Discreet conversations with former employees, suppliers, competitors and bankers, to hear what the records do not say.
Assets, lifestyle and declared income
Whether the promoters’ visible wealth matches their declared income and the company’s history.
Monitoring after you invest
Periodic monitoring of the promoters and the portfolio company, so early warning signs reach you before the next board meeting does.
How we work
How a promoter review runs
- 01
Scope
We agree the questions that matter for this deal, the subjects to cover and the deadline.
- 02
Records
Corporate, court, regulatory, property and media records, in India and the relevant jurisdictions.
- 03
Field enquiries
Discreet source enquiries and site visits, without alerting the target.
- 04
Report
A clear report that separates verified facts from allegations, with red flags ranked by how much they should worry you.
Why Spectra Forensics
Why investors hire us
We look at promoters the way a fraud investigator does, because most of the deals that go wrong after closing go wrong through people, not spreadsheets.
500+ due diligence and market intelligence assignments since 2007.
- 01Built from 1,250+ investigations: we know what concealment looks like
- 02Verified facts kept separate from market talk
- 03Fixed scopes and deadlines that fit a deal timetable
- 04Strict confidentiality: the target does not learn about our work
Questions
Frequently asked questions
01How is promoter due diligence different from financial due diligence?
Financial due diligence tests the numbers the company gives you. Promoter due diligence tests the people behind those numbers: their other businesses, their record, their related parties and how they have treated earlier investors and lenders.
02How long does a pre-investment review take?
Usually two to four weeks, depending on the size of the promoter group and how many jurisdictions are involved. Shorter red-flag reviews are possible when a deal is moving fast.
03Will the target company know?
Not from us. Our enquiries are discreet, and we agree with you in advance whether any direct contact is appropriate.
04Do you monitor promoters after we invest?
Yes. Many investors ask for periodic updates on the promoters and the portfolio company, covering new litigation, new related companies, regulatory action and changes in reputation.
05Can lenders use this before sanction?
Yes. Banks and NBFCs use it to check a borrower group and its promoters before a large or unusual exposure, and to understand where earlier facilities were used.
Proof
Case files from this service
Real matters, anonymised. Client names, places and identifying details are withheld.
2 profilesdelivered with clear, evidence-based verdicts
What the References Didn't Volunteer
Two profiles: a senior candidate whose integrity held up but whose CV did not, and a promoter whose eleven-company family group showed nothing adverse.
- Independent references
- Corporate records
- Litigation, regulatory and sanctions screening
- Income and asset reconciliation
~22%of reported revenue found not to be genuine
Revenue Borrowed from Next Year
Ahead of a growth round, a consumer brand's revenue was inflated through related distributors, bill-and-hold sales and money sent round in a circle.
- Revenue quality analytics
- Related-party discovery
- Cash circularity review
- Warehouse and stock checks
₹80–100 Crrouted through a web of small entities
Clean Money, Long Route
A promoter's share capital and loans into his listed company came through a chain of small firms whose own money could not be explained.
- Corporate records analysis
- Funds-route mapping
- Regulatory and litigation screening
- Discreet market intelligence
Client names and identifying details are withheld to protect confidentiality. Specific references and client experiences can be shared on request, with the client’s consent.
Talk to us first
Not sure what you need? Ask us.
Initial guidance is free and confidential. Tell us what has happened, and a senior member of our team will help you decide the right next step, even if that step is not an engagement.
Due Diligence
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