• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Employee Benefits Law Group

Employee Benefits Law Group

Guidance. More than just Legal Advice.

  • What We Do
    • ESOPs
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Retirement Plans
    • Equity & Executive Compensation
    • Health & Welfare Plans
  • Our Team
  • Resources
  • Contact
Employee Benefits Law Group
Home > Resources > Mergers & Acquisitions > M&A Benefits Due Diligence In Phases Lets You Decide How Much Review Is Enough

M&A Benefits Due Diligence In Phases Lets You Decide How Much Review Is Enough

March 13, 2019 by Employee Benefits Law Group

During M&A benefits due diligence, the deal lawyers we work with appreciate having ERISA counsel with serious transaction experience on their side. We understand that deal cost and time have to be kept in check. Our phased approach to employee benefits diligence puts you and your client in control of how much review is enough.

Transcript

Transaction lawyers we work with appreciate having ERISA counsel with serious transaction experience on their side. We understand that deal cost and time have to be kept in check.

So, in addition to backstopping you on those dreaded ERISA reps and warranties, we use a phased approach to benefits review that puts you and your client in control of how much review is enough. 
It works like this. In Phase 1, we’ll look for “hot spots” in the retirement and healthcare plan documents.

We’ll report to you any obvious errors. Depending on what we’ve found, we may stop there or we may recommend a Phase 2 review.

If your client agrees that a Phase 2 review is needed, we’ll take a deeper look at the hot spots we identified. We’ll give you the “correction” options including an estimate of the cost to fix the problem and the potential costs of not fixing the problem. This gives the buyer or the seller a way to quantify the risk so they can make plan corrections or adjust the deal terms if needed.

Phase 3 is the correction work. Depending on the problem, Phase 3 can often be done after the closing to take pressure off the transaction timeline. Clean-up can be as simple as drafting a plan amendment.
If you’d like more information on how we can help you protect your buyer or get your seller ready for a transaction, let’s start a conversation.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship between Employee Benefits Law Group and the listener or reader and does not constitute legal advice for a specific situation. 

Our Employee Benefits Due Diligence Coverage

We’re not just ERISA lawyers. We are transaction-tested benefits lawyers with tax credentials. And, we are supported by a team of experienced plan administration specialists.

Learn More…

Filed Under: Mergers & Acquisitions Tagged With: M&A Benefits Due Diligence

About Employee Benefits Law Group

Employee Benefits Law Group is a deep and diverse team of experts working to make your life easier and improve your outcomes in every aspect of employee benefits. Our clients know we listen, probe and understand their challenges and objectives. We ask the questions they didn't know needed to be asked. They count on us to deliver solutions that become part of their company's overall success.

Meet the Team

EDITOR’S NOTE: We did the best we could to make sure the information and advice in this article were current as of the date of posting to the web site. Because the laws and the government’s rules are changing all the time, you should check with us if you are unsure whether this material is still current. Of course, none of our articles are meant to serve as specific legal advice to you. If you would like that, please call us at (916) 357-5660.

Recent Mergers & Acquisitions Posts

M&A Benefits – How to Avoid an Employee Benefits Train Wreck in Your Next Deal

Employee Benefits Plans In Mergers And Acquisitions

Benefit Plans in M&A Deals – Avoiding That Call After the Deal Has Closed

Don’t Miss Out! Subscribe

We cover all things employee benefits law.

Privacy Policy

We never share your info.

Let’s Start a Conversation

Have questions about your current benefit plan? Want to know what your benefit plan options are? Whatever your need, we’re here to help. Fill out a hassle-free request form, and one of our team members will follow up to get you on the path to success.

Get In Touch

Footer

Our experienced team guides you in all aspects of ESOPs, M&A due diligence, retirement plans, equity / compensation, and health and welfare benefits.
Sacramento Office
916-357-5660
11231 Gold Express Dr.
Suite 108
Gold River, CA 95670
San Jose Office
408-467-3860
2033 Gateway Place
Suite 500
San Jose, CA 95110
Phoenix Office
2550 W. Union Hills Dr.
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Los Angeles Office
310-571-8896
10880 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 1101
Los Angeles, CA
90024
San Diego Office
916-357-5660
550 West B Street
San Diego, CA 92101
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Copyright © 2025 Employee Benefits Law Group · Privacy Policy · Site Design by Delos Incorporated