Sin'kina O.N. Tax Due Diligence as an Element of Integrated Pre-Investment Analysis of a Company

Abstract: The object of the research is the development of pre-investment analysis of a company (due diligence) and tax due diligence as the subdivision of such analysis as well as their ole on the merger/take-over market. The subject of the resaerch is a series of theoretical and practical issues aimed at increasing the quality and efficiency of due diligence procedures. In her research Sinkina has analyzed the legal origin and today's approaches to due diligence and described the process, structure and contents of due diligence. The author also describes the methods and procedures of due diligence and advantanges of the integrated model. Special attention is paid to the arrangement of tax due diligence and presentation of 'tax opinion'. The methodological basis of the research involves fundamental provisions presented in Russian and foreign researches. in her research Sinkina has used the systems approach to studying the aforesaid issues as well as general and specific research methods such as abstraction, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, comparative analysis and grouping. The main conclusions of the research are the following. Due diligence has two definitions. First of all, it is assessment of risks and opportunities associated with a proposed transaction to be performed on the merger/take-over market. Secondly, it is the standard of due care required for certain operations. In both cases, due diligence is the analysis of the accuracy of information regarding future investment or decision and assessment of the future potential of a business transaction. Due diligence analysis can be applied to various spheres. However, tax due diligence is crucial for creating an image of a potential target company. One of the reasons of unsuccessful and failed transactions on the merger/take-over market in Russia and foreign states is ignoration of pre-investment analysis. The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the author of the article justifies a number of recommendations for making a successful transaction:  1. to conduct a thorough integrated pre-investment research,  2. to pay due attention to tax due diligence,  3. to provide access to the virtual 'data room' for consultants so that they can collect information about their object of analysis,  4. to keep in mind that the time spent on due diligence is directly proportional to the efficiency and productivity of analysis;  5. to provide a detailed SWOT analysis of a business transaction based on the results of due diligence, SWOT analysis is being made from the points of view of different disciplines which should create the basis for the executive deicision making process. The author of the article agrees to many researchers that there is a growing need for special standartization of due diligence and tax due diligence as the basis for the risk-oriented approach used in audit.  The author also makes a suggestion that the transition of Russia to international audit standards in January 1, 2018 shall increase the quality of due diligence as a result of involvement of specialists from different spheres without auditors and consequently reduce the expenses of such analysis which is especially important in the pre-investment period. 

Keywords: