Methodology · 10 March 2026 · 4 min read
What we mean by a 'verified' acquisition mandate
Verification is neither a stamp nor a credit reference. It is a defined editorial gate: funding position, sector fit, adviser standing, and readiness to transact.
The word 'verified' is used loosely across the M&A market. On the register it has a specific meaning, applied by our editors before a mandate is published, and re-tested when a mandate is materially updated.
Four editorial tests
- Funding position: evidence, appropriate to the buyer type, that the acquirer can complete a transaction of the size described.
- Investment thesis: a coherent statement of what the buyer is looking for and why, testable against the sectors and structures they claim to pursue.
- Adviser standing: where an adviser is representing the mandate, confirmation of instruction and a named contact.
- Readiness to transact: a stated timeline and decision-making structure consistent with a live search rather than a scoping exercise.
What verification is not
Verification is not a credit reference, a valuation opinion, or a guarantee of completion. It is the editorial minimum below which a mandate does not appear on the register at all.