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Mergers And Acquisitions

Last updated: March 22, 2024

What Does Mergers And Acquisitions Mean?

Mergers and acquisitions is more commonly referred to by it’s acronym, M&A, by buyers and investment bankers. It refers very loosely to the process of buying and selling a company. The difference between mergers and acquisitions is simply how a deal is presented to manage the public’s perception of the transaction.

A merger is usually presented as “softer” since its connotation is of “collaboration” and “partnership” as opposed to an acquisition which can be perceived as the seller losing all control post-transaction. Regardless of how a transaction is presented, there is always a party that lands in control after the deal is done.

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Divestopedia Explains Mergers And Acquisitions

The M&A process, in the context of a private company sale, usually entails the following steps performed by an investment banker/business broker:

  • Preparation of a teaser to assess the initial interest in the company from prospective buyers;
  • Completion of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by interested buyers who wish to review further;
  • Preparation and delivery of the confidential information memorandum (CIM);
  • Management of expressions of interest (EOI) and/or letters of intent (LOI);
  • Qualification of prospective buyers for an adequate fit for the buyer;
  • Qualification of offers to ensure the maximum value and cleanest structure are achieved;
  • Management of the due diligence process to ensure all requirements by the buyer are met, but also conducting due diligence on the buyer; and
  • Closing of the transaction and post-transaction support.
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