Ep. 114: Bill Dupee, Aprio | Using Diligence to De-Risk Deals and Improve Outcomes
•February 17, 2026
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Original Description
On this episode, Bill Dupee, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services at Aprio, breaks down how buyers and sellers can use diligence to clarify the true economic engine of a business, identify risk early and build a narrative that stands up in a competitive process.
Learn how disciplined metrics, higher-quality information and a repeatable diligence process shape deal outcomes, from avoiding late-stage surprises to accelerating post-close value creation. Plus, hear where deals most often falter and how better preparation changes both speed and leverage in negotiations.
The information contained in this podcast is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice.
⏱️ Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
02:34 Meet Bill and Aprio
04:10 What transaction advisory really includes
06:05 Quality of earnings beyond just financials
09:00 Tax, HR, tech and integration in diligence
12:00 Playing defense and offense in diligence
14:00 Value creation vs historical analysis
16:00 Buy side vs sell side objectives
19:20 Why sellers should prepare years in advance
21:30 SaaS metrics and syncing sources of truth
24:00 Why deals fall apart for sellers
25:45 Building a scalable buy side diligence process
28:30 Common buyer mistakes in proprietary deals
29:55 Monthly financials vs annual financials
32:00 Free cash flow vs EBITDA surprises
34:00 Navigating valuation gaps in the current market
37:00 Aprio’s M&A strategy and growth approach
40:00 Building a full lifecycle advisory relationship
44:15 Final thoughts and how to connect
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