Intology

Fixed fee · One-page RAG memo · Invoice on delivery

Technology Red-Flag Review

A technology red-flag review is a short, fixed-scope assessment of an acquisition target's technology before you commit capital. It rates the five areas most likely to move a deal, resize a price or resurface as unbudgeted cost after completion, and gives a plain verdict on whether full technology due diligence is warranted, and at what scope.

Intology's red-flag review costs £3,500 plus VAT per target. Complex or accelerated deals are quoted by arrangement up to £5,000. An NDA can be in place within 24 hours, and the invoice is issued on delivery.

Full technology due diligence

    01

    Why a red-flag review comes first

    On most lower mid-market deals the technology question arrives late. Full technology due diligence costs considerably more and takes weeks, and by the time it is authorised the board has often committed significant capital.

    That leaves two uncomfortable positions: technology risk is not assessed before signing and surfaces later as unplanned capex or a missed exit multiple, or full diligence is commissioned without a basis for scoping it. The red-flag review resolves both. It gives the deal team a defensible technology risk position before capital is committed, and a scoped basis from which to commission full diligence, or not.

    02

    Five areas, one page

    Each area is RAG-rated with a short narrative and the evidence behind it.

    01

    Architecture and scalability

    Will the platform support the investment thesis, or cap it at the first growth milestone? Technical ceiling and rebuild risk assessed.
    02

    Cyber posture

    Crown-jewel data, access controls, known incidents, insurance and regulatory exposure. What transfers to the new owner on day one.
    03

    Key-person and founder dependency

    Which technical capabilities leave if the founder or a single engineer does, and whether the business can operate on day one without them.
    04

    Technical debt and platform age

    The run-rate cost of carrying existing debt and the real capex required to reach the roadmap, rather than the vendor estimate.
    05

    ERP and data estate

    Finance system credibility, integration quality, and whether the business can produce the management information a private equity owner needs.

    03

    What you receive

    1. 01
      A one-page RAG memo (PDF) across the five areas
    2. 02
      The top three risks in plain English for the investment committee, with £ exposure where evidence exists
    3. 03
      A clear verdict on whether full technology due diligence is warranted, and at what scope
    4. 04
      Independent analysis from an operator, not an analyst working a template

    04

    How it works

    1. Step 1

      Request

      Complete the short form with the deal context. Intology responds within one UK working day.

    2. Step 2

      Scope and sign-off

      A 20-minute call to confirm the target, the information available, the NDA and timing. The engagement letter is issued the same day.

    3. Step 3

      Structured assessment

      The five areas are assessed using the materials available: CIM, management accounts, IT landscape, any existing diligence output or management access.

    4. Step 4

      Memo delivered

      A single PDF with the RAG ratings, the top three risks and the verdict. The invoice is issued on delivery.

    05

    Who it is for

    01

    Private equity deal and operating partners

    An evidence-based technology risk position before investment committee, without commissioning full diligence on every target in the pipeline.
    02

    Corporate development and M&A teams

    Consistent technology risk triage across pipeline targets: one structure, one RAG standard, one output format.
    03

    CEOs and CFOs of acquiring businesses

    Independent sight of the technology risks that will appear in the SPA warranties, or after completion as unbudgeted capex, before you commit.

    06

    Who carries out the review

    Red-flag reviews are carried out by Richard Keenlyside, Intology's founder, using the same five-area framework applied on full technology due diligence engagements. Intology sells no technology, integration or remediation work, so the verdict on whether more diligence is needed is not a sales decision.

    07

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a technology red-flag review?

    A short, fixed-fee assessment of an acquisition target's technology across five deal risk areas, delivered as a one-page RAG memo with a verdict on whether full technology due diligence is needed.

    How much does the red-flag review cost?

    £3,500 plus VAT per target. Complex or accelerated deals are quoted by arrangement up to £5,000. The invoice is issued on delivery.

    How quickly is it delivered?

    The timetable is agreed on the scoping call to fit the deal. Intology responds to every request within one UK working day and issues the engagement letter on the day scope is agreed.

    What information do you need?

    Whatever is available at the stage of the deal: the CIM, management accounts, an IT landscape, any existing diligence output and, ideally, access to management. The memo states what evidence each rating rests on.

    Does it replace full technology due diligence?

    No. It tells you whether full diligence is warranted and what it should cover, so you do not commission it blind or skip it on a target that needs it.

    Is it confidential?

    Yes. An NDA can be in place within 24 hours, and nothing about the target is shared outside the engagement.

    Who is it for?

    Private equity deal and operating partners, corporate development teams and the CEOs and CFOs of acquiring businesses.

    Certainty before you commit capital

    Send the deal context and Intology will respond within one UK working day. No obligation until the engagement letter is signed.

    Request a red-flag review+44 330 551 9401