Chartered Accountancy - Audit - Advisory
Due Diligence and Investigation Services
Better information equals better decisions.
We identify the risks a buyer, a lender or an investor cannot see from the documents alone, and we set out the options available to limit or transfer them. We advise on the growth, acquisition and sale of small and mid-sized businesses in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Togo and Senegal.
We help our clients measure risk and decide with the facts in hand when they enter the West African market. From incorporation to growth and to sale, we work alongside the management team at each stage.
Problem Solved
Our work combines two working languages, English and French, a reading of international practice, and networks established in each of the seven countries we cover. Enquiries are carried out on the ground, by people who know the local administrations and registries, and the findings are reported in both languages.
Applying the same method to every situation rarely works. What is appropriate depends on the country, the sector, the technology available and the management in place. We look for the answer that fits the constraints of the case at hand, rather than a single model applied everywhere.
We report what we find, including the points we were unable to establish, and we say so plainly. Each assignment is handled by a named contact who stays reachable once the report has been delivered.
Risk Management
Ships were not built to sit in the harbor. They were built to assume risks. Assuming risks you know about and are comfortable with is one thing, but assuming unknown risks is not. We work with our clients to find all risk from elephants to termites and work with out clients to devise risk management choices.
Investigations
For complex investigations resulting from; insurance claims, fraud, intellectual property, and commercial litigation we are here to support your information needs/ We have assisted clients with investigations across French-speaking West Africa.
Factual Due Diligence
It is about knowing who is the fox and who is the hare, and it is often a surprise to both. Due diligence is about making fully informed decisions not from paper trails but from facts. We help you discernment the paper facts from the real facts.
Ready to advise you
The idea consultant trait is that of being a good listener and possessing deep expertise in the desired field. No consultant has all of the answers to all of the problems but in their field, they must be insightful and a top problem solver who can be deployed to support the client.
BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS
Where the Business Will Be Operated
This should be considered before starting the business. Most profitable business activities will need permits and licenses. Of course, the details vary depending upon what state the business is being started in – but you will need to check local laws to determine whether you need a permit. It is very important that your new business is not started or built until the necessary permits are obtained.
In cases where businesses are being built physically, local authorities may reserve the right to have the building removed if the necessary permits are not obtained. In case you wish to operate under a parent company with headquarters abroad, you may need to establish a local business and obtain the necessary local license to operate.
Business Licenses
Depending upon the nature of your business, you may need to seek state business licenses. The business license gives the business permission to operate within the jurisdiction. State business licenses are required for those companies which provide products or services governed by specific laws.
It’s important to check and see which business licenses are required in your specific case.
Permits
Permits are required in order to ensure that the business is following specific ordinances regarding safety and appearance within the country. For instance, restaurants and other places dealing with food and drinks would be required to have a health permit. Import-Export companies which purchase items at wholesale price and resell them for profit are required to have a permit.
Any business that plans to build a physical building for their company will most likely be required to have a building permit. Similarly, there are certain zones within cities and towns that govern where commercial, residential and industrial businesses can be. It’s important to be sure your location is properly zoned for your business and you may need specific permits.
By obtaining the proper licenses and permits, your new company can be assured that it is operating within the parameters of the law and that it is considered legal and valid in the country.