The BLACK Protocol

Our flagship diagnostic. A fixed protocol that turns the buyer's integration thesis into a focused, seller-safe artifact request and posture memo in 72 hours.

The short version

10 binary questions. Integration-led artifact request. Evidence gap analysis. Decision memo in 72 hours. Reads in 10 minutes. Holds up under audit.

1

Structured Interview

10 sector-calibrated binary questions administered to the target's principal. Audio-recorded. 30 minutes. The questions are designed to surface governance posture, not technical detail. Every answer is yes or no. Elaboration is noted but not scored.

The interview itself is a diagnostic instrument. How a principal responds to structured accountability questions reveals more than any deck or data room.

2

Integration-Led Artifact Request

Following the interview, the principal receives a focused artifact request shaped by the buyer's integration thesis. If the buyer needs to consolidate payroll, integrate systems, assume customer contracts, or evaluate working-capital exposure, the request changes accordingly.

The request stays bounded: the smallest useful set of artifacts needed to answer clear business questions at that phase of the deal. What arrives, what doesn't, and the delta between claims and proof tells the story.

3

Posture Analysis

Interview responses and submitted evidence are scored against governance frameworks. Binary posture calls only. No subjective risk ratings. No color-coded matrices.

Aligned with ILPA due diligence guidelines, ISO 27001, and COSO. Every score traces to a specific artifact or its absence.

4

Decision Memo

A binary posture memo grading each domain as pass, fail, or flag. The evidence speaks. The buyer decides. Includes evidence gap analysis and commercial posture options tied to specific findings.

The memo is designed to be read by an investment committee in under 10 minutes and defended under audit indefinitely.

What you receive

  • Binary risk memo with scored posture outcomes
  • Evidence gap analysis
  • Commercial posture options tied to specific findings
  • Scope guidance for confirmatory diligence

How it's different

  • Seller-safe artifact requests tied to specific integration questions.
  • Human judgment with deal-level context. Every finding is reviewed by an analyst, not generated by software.
  • Your DD team gets a focused scope instead of an open-ended search.

Traditional diligence vs. BLACK

Traditional BLACK
Timing Post-LOI Before posture hardens
Duration 4-6 weeks 72 hours
Access required Full data room Zero
Evidence standard Self-reported Timestamped artifacts
Output Narrative report Binary decision memo

Bring us your next deal.

BLACK is best understood against an active transaction.

30 minutes. We'll show you what 72 hours of posture intelligence looks like for your deal or pipeline.

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