LANDMARKETA land bank is not one number in a presentation. It consists of hundreds or thousands of individual rights, contracts, owners and maturity dates. Due diligence confirms how much land the company can actually use, on what terms and for how long.
01 · SOURCE DATA
Where the review starts
- parcel-level register with cadastral IDs, area and landowners;
- type of right: lease, sublease, emphyteusis, ownership or undocumented use;
- execution, registration and expiry dates and renewal terms;
- rent, indexation, payment method and payment history;
- coordinates, field clusters, access, restrictions and overlaps;
- litigation, inheritance, unclaimed land, encumbrances and third-party rights.
The total area must be rebuilt from parcel-level data rather than copied from a management presentation without reconciliation.
02 · LEGAL REVIEW
What is checked for each parcel
- Identify the parcel
Cadastral ID, area, designated use, location and owner.
- Verify the right
Contract, amendments, authority of signatories and continuity of rights.
- Reconcile registration
Cadastre and property-right records should match the documents.
- Review terms
Duration, renewal, indexation, termination, transfer and liability.
- Check disputes and encumbrances
Arrests, security interests, litigation, competing contracts and third-party claims.
03 · MATURITY AND RETENTION
Why the average lease term can mislead
An average does not show how many hectares must be renewed in each specific year. Buyers need an expiry schedule by year, municipality and critical field cluster.
Risk is higher when a material portion expires soon after closing or short leases are concentrated in the most valuable fields.
04 · LEASE ECONOMICS
Landowner payments and hidden obligations
- rent arrears and unsupported cash settlements;
- differences between contractual and actual rent;
- in-kind payments, additional services and informal commitments;
- unrecorded indexation and inconsistent application;
- advance payments that transfer economically to the buyer;
- renewal and landowner-relations costs.
05 · OUTPUT
What the buyer should receive
- verified area by quality-of-right category;
- field-cluster map and critical gaps;
- lease-expiry schedule by year;
- estimate of obligations to landowners;
- legal-defect register and remediation plan;
- land-retention scenarios after a change of control;
- recommendations for price adjustments, seller protections and closing conditions.
CONFIDENTIAL · CONTROLLED DISCLOSURE
Discuss an agribusiness sale or acquisition
Start with the region, land-bank scale and asset perimeter. Sensitive details are discussed directly.How the sale process worksFAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is reviewing a sample of leases enough?
A sample helps identify patterns, but area and maturity must be verified at parcel level or under a risk-based methodology agreed by the parties.
How should unregistered leases be treated?
They should be classified separately as higher-risk items, with the factual use status established and remediation agreed before or after closing.
Does a change in company ownership terminate leases?
An equity transfer does not normally change the contracting entity, but the agreements, corporate structure and registration records must be reviewed for the specific transaction.
Sources and legal framework
- Land Code of Ukraine
- Law of Ukraine on Land Lease
- Law on State Registration of Property Rights
- State Land Cadastre electronic services
This material is for general information only. Transaction structure, tax, regulatory approvals and documentation require deal-specific Ukrainian professional advice.