Independent AI Governance & Compliance Risk Assessments
AI risks in your next deal identified before close.
We help PE, VC and M&A deal teams, investors and advisers identify material AI-related risks in acquisition targets — covering EU AI Act exposure, UK regulatory exposure, AI governance and compliance gaps, and shadow AI risks — before deals sign and close.
Our team has worked and studied at
Specialist AI governance risk DD support for
deal teams under time pressure
Specialist AI governance risk DD support for deal teams under time pressure
Specialist AI governance risk DD support for deal teams under time pressure
Belstark delivers a focused, specialist assessment that gives deal teams the findings they need to structure protections before signing. Fixed fee. Fixed scope. Outcome based.
Belstark delivers a focused, specialist assessment that gives deal teams the findings they need to structure protections before signing.
Fixed fee. Fixed scope. Outcome based.
AI Risk Assessments
We identify and quantify a target's material AI exposure — across systems, data, governance, regulation, and contracts — and hand your deal team findings they can act on before signing.
AI Risk Assessments
We identify and quantify a target's material AI exposure — across systems, data, governance, regulation, and contracts — and hand your deal team findings they can act on before signing.
AI Risk Assessments
We identify and quantify a target's material AI exposure — across systems, data, governance, regulation, and contracts — and hand your deal team findings they can act on before signing.
AI Risk Monitoring
We become your firm's standing AI-risk function: monitoring exposure across your portfolio, keeping you current as regulation moves, and on call the moment the next deal lands.
AI Risk Monitoring
We become your firm's standing AI-risk function: monitoring exposure across your portfolio, keeping you current as regulation moves, and on call the moment the next deal lands.
AI Risk Monitoring
We become your firm's standing AI-risk function: monitoring exposure across your portfolio, keeping you current as regulation moves, and on call the moment the next deal lands.
What we assess before close
What we assess before close
We identify the AI risks that can affect valuation, deal protections, and integration planning — then set out clear, deal-specific recommendations.
Regulatory Exposure
Regulatory Exposure
Regulatory Exposures
Claims vs. Evidence
Claims vs. Evidence
Claims vs. Evidence
Key Person Risks
Key Person Risks
Key Person Risks
Vendor & Contract Risk
Vendor & Contract Risk
Vendor & Contract Risks
IP & Data Governance
IP & Data Governance
IP & Data Provenance
AI Governance Model
AI Governance Model
AI Governance Model
Why specialist AI governance risk DD?
Regulations are rising, but we still lack precedents
Why specialist AI governance risk DD? Regulations are rising, but we still lack precedents
AI technology exposure
AI may sit inside the target’s product, operations, or customer systems without a complete inventory, clear ownership, or documented controls.
Regulatory exposure
The EU AI Act carries fines of up to €35M or 7% of worldwide revenue. Classification and governance gaps matter before signing, not after.
Business value exposure
Contract terms, data practices, and supplier dependencies can create liabilities that standard DD workstreams do not surface.
AI risk due diligence for better-informed investment decisions
€35m
or 7% of turnover
under the EU AI Act for serious non-compliance, with additional penalties for governance/ oversight failures.
63%
of organisations have no formal AI governance policy according to Schellman 2026.
75% +
of companies surveyed by IBM in their 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report, still don't have governance processes in place.
Tens
of millions
Typical reputational and legal cost of a single high-profile failure to comply with AI & Data Privacy Laws.
5+
risk dimensions
AI risks can span product, data, suppliers, customers, and governance — requiring a joined-up diligence view.
1
written report
Potential sources of deal exposure across regulatory obligations, data practices, and AI governance gaps.
€35m
or 7% of turnover
under the EU AI Act for serious non-compliance, with additional penalties for governance/ oversight failures.
63%
of organisations have no formal AI governance policy according to Schellman 2026.
75% +
of companies surveyed by IBM in their 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report, still don't have governance processes in place.
Tens
of millions
Typical reputational and legal cost of a single high-profile failure to comply with AI & Data Privacy Laws.
5+
risk dimensions
AI risks can span product, data, suppliers, customers, and governance — requiring a joined-up diligence view.
1
written report
Potential sources of deal exposure across regulatory obligations, data practices, and AI governance gaps.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for deal teams, advisers, and counsel working against the clock.
How does this fit alongside our existing DD process?
We run as a specialist sub-workstream alongside your legal, financial, and technical DD teams. We need 10–15 working days, data room access to relevant documentation, and 2–3 hours of management time.
Who is this for?
PE deal teams, M&A lawyers, corporate finance advisers, and operating partners at lower mid-market funds. We are most useful where AI is embedded in the target’s operations, product, or customer systems.
What does the assessment cover?
We map AI systems, classify EU AI Act exposure, UK regulatory exposure and other AI regulation, assess governance gaps and data risk, review contractual liability flags, and set out materiality with deal-specific recommendations in a written report. Belstark provides AI risk and governance advisory services. This is not a regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and does not constitute investment advice. Nothing in our assessments or reports constitutes legal advice. Clients should obtain independent legal and financial advice before making transaction decisions.
What do we receive?
A concise written AI risk report for the deal team, covering material findings, practical implications, and recommended actions for transaction documents, valuation discussions, and post-close planning.
How quickly can you complete the work?
Most assessments are completed in 2–3 weeks. We work to the transaction timetable and can confirm scope quickly once we understand the target and available evidence.
What happens after close?
We can support the portfolio company with remediation of identified gaps, governance system build, and ongoing advisory — focused on the priorities identified during diligence.
How does this fit alongside our existing DD process?
We run as a specialist sub-workstream alongside your legal, financial, and technical DD teams. We need 10–15 working days, data room access to relevant documentation, and 2–3 hours of management time.
Who is this for?
PE deal teams, M&A lawyers, corporate finance advisers, and operating partners at lower mid-market funds. We are most useful where AI is embedded in the target’s operations, product, or customer systems.
What does the assessment cover?
We map AI systems, classify EU AI Act exposure, UK regulatory exposure and other AI regulation, assess governance gaps and data risk, review contractual liability flags, and set out materiality with deal-specific recommendations in a written report. Belstark provides AI risk and governance advisory services. This is not a regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and does not constitute investment advice. Nothing in our assessments or reports constitutes legal advice. Clients should obtain independent legal and financial advice before making transaction decisions.
What do we receive?
A concise written AI risk report for the deal team, covering material findings, practical implications, and recommended actions for transaction documents, valuation discussions, and post-close planning.
How quickly can you complete the work?
Most assessments are completed in 2–3 weeks. We work to the transaction timetable and can confirm scope quickly once we understand the target and available evidence.
What happens after close?
We can support the portfolio company with remediation of identified gaps, governance system build, and ongoing advisory — focused on the priorities identified during diligence.