PREPARE FOR THE CONVERSATION
Prepare for a U.S. acquisition
A useful acquisition conversation begins with the ownership you want and the questions you need to answer. Use this checklist to organize your priorities before a discovery conversation. Keep detailed records with your own advisers and use an agreed secure channel if documents are later needed.
For international buyers, U.S. owners and their advisers considering an operating business or commercial property.
Ownership and purpose
What would you like to own, and what role would you like to play?
Consider an operating business, commercial property or both. Note why the opportunity matters to you, your preferred location and your intended role in day-to-day operations. You can begin before choosing a specific deal.
Business or property diligence
What needs independent verification before you commit?
For a business, organize questions about customers, operations, people, contracts and the transition from the seller. For property, consider intended use, condition, leases and operating costs. Diligence means investigating the opportunity and verifying the information behind a decision; identify the reviews and evidence your transaction needs.
Transaction and professional team
Who is already involved, and which reviews are still needed?
List your existing advisers and the questions each can address. Identify legal, accounting, property and other specialist reviews appropriate to the opportunity. Agree who will handle each workstream, its scope and when it is needed.
Capital and financing questions
How do the purchase, transaction costs and operating needs fit together?
Frame questions about purchase price, buyer contribution, transaction costs, working capital and financing conditions. Working capital is the funding available for day-to-day operations. Discuss detailed amounts privately. Ask who makes financing decisions, what evidence is required and which conditions remain unresolved.
Cross-border ownership and personal plans
Which countries and personal plans should your advisers consider?
Identify the countries, ownership questions and longer-term plans your legal and tax advisers need to understand. If living or working in the United States is also a goal, ask qualified immigration counsel to assess that separately from the acquisition.
Timing and next decision
What must be understood before your next commitment?
Separate what is known from what needs verification. Note time-sensitive questions and dependencies. With your advisers, assign proposed reviewers and an order for resolving the questions before the next decision.
Financing eligibility, structure and terms are deal-specific. Financing is not guaranteed. An acquisition does not itself establish residency or citizenship.
Your preparation checklist
Print and add your notes on paper. This page does not collect or save checklist answers.
| Question | Who should review it | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| What would you like to own, and what role would you like to play? | ||
| What needs independent verification before you commit? | ||
| Who is already involved, and which reviews are still needed? | ||
| How do the purchase, transaction costs and operating needs fit together? | ||
| Which countries and personal plans should your advisers consider? | ||
| What must be understood before your next commitment? |
Take into discovery
Bring a brief description of your goal, your timing, existing advisers and the three questions you most want to resolve. For an acquisition, include the opportunity and your intended ownership role; for international planning, include countries under consideration, if any.
Discuss your acquisition goals