Due Diligence Deskbook

Get on target every time you investigate a company in a business acquisition

This publication is essential for: solicitors acting for a purchaser or lender in a business acquisition.

Current to: July 1, 2016

You're a solicitor acting for a purchaser in a business acquisition. What searches should you conduct as part of your due diligence review? Winner of the ACLEA Award for Professional Excellence in Publications, the Due Diligence Deskbook provides practical commentary on each type of search, precedent letters, and comprehensive information sheets that list addresses, fax and phone numbers, and email and website addresses in over 15 areas, including:

• Bank of Canada searches
• bankruptcy searches
• corporate searches
• employment searches
• environmental searches
• land title searches
• litigation searches
• municipal searches
• natural resources searches
• personal property registry searches
• provincial taxation searches
• provincial work orders searches
• CRA searches
• securities searches
• specialty searches

The book is updated each fall. Subscriptions include online access with search capability and links to the full text of case law and legislation, and precedent letters on CD-ROM.

ONLINE ONLY annual subscriptions are available. Subscribe now.

Highlights of the 2016 Update:

All content reviewed and updated to July 1, 2016. All contact sheets reliably updated, including revised email addresses, search fee, and map information. Examples of some of the content revisions include:

• Chapter 3 (Bankruptcy Searches): Alerts to the procedure for assignment of bankrupt to a CCAA Monitor and changes to how to conduct the search. Information Sheet reflects change in federal department/ministry.
• Chapter 6 (Out-of-Province Corporate Searches): Changes to how the online search is conducted and currency of results. Information Sheet reflects change in federal department/ministry. 
• Chapter 9 (Workers Compensation): Changes to the surcharge fees and experience rating program and to penalty rates for offences.
• Chapter 12 (Human Rights Records Searches): Minor changes to how to conduct the search.
• Chapter 15 (Transportation of Dangerous Goods): Information Sheet reflects change to contact information for federal privacy division and to contact personnel at provincial related offices.
• Chapter 16 (Land Title): Revised content regarding the search and fees under LTSA.
• Chapter 17 (Indian Act Lands): Revised content regarding searching the electronic registry Indian Lands Registry system. 
• Chapter 21 (Municipal Property Tax Searches): Minor changes to the fees for BCOnline. 
• Chapter 22 (Health): Introduces a Checklist for Health and Environmental Health Records. Minor changes to safe drinking water regulation. 
• Chapter 24 (Mineral Title Searches): Revised content regarding how the electronic search is conducted under the MTO.
• Chapters 27 (Provincial Sales Tax Searches), 29 (Motor Fuel Tax Seaches) and 29A (Carbon Tax): Revised clearance forms plus revised commentary regarding remittance obligations.
• Chapter 32 (Canada Revenue Agency Compliance Searches): Elimination of social insurance numbers for corporate searches by corporate directors.
• Chapter 33 (Securities): Revised search description. 
• Chapter 36 (Motor Vehicle Searches): Distinguishes between driving record and commercial driving record searches.

CLEBC Legal Editor
Morag MacLean
mmaclean@cle.bc.ca