Deals & Transactions

Deals and Transactions Guides

CFI has created a vast library of guides, templates and resources to help you learn about deals and transactions in corporate finance. These articles are designed as self-study, so you can read and learn at your own pace. In the guides, you’ll see examples and step-by-step instruction on the most important and common types of transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, takeover defense, management buyouts, leveraged buyouts and more.

committee negotiating deals and transactions

Learn How Deals are Structured

Below is a list of CFI’s most popular guides to learn about the structuring of transactions and deals in corporate finance. These resources are useful for anyone considering a career in investment banking, corporate development, business brokerage, or any other job the deals with buy and selling companies. Whether you need to learn about non-disclosure agreements, share purchase agreements, or how to close an asset purchase, these guides will be a big help!

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Private Equity Transaction Timeline

Private Equity Transaction Timeline There are various steps involved in a Private Equity Transaction Timeline. The diagram below shows the different steps in a M&A transaction from the private equity side, along with a tentative timeline. Steps in a Private Equity Transaction Timeline 1. Teaser Sent by Bankers One of the first steps...

Definitive Purchase Agreement

What is a Definitive Purchase Agreement? A Definitive Purchase Agreement (DPA) is a legal document that records the terms and conditions between two companies that enter into an agreement for a merger, acquisition, divestiture, joint venture or some form of strategic alliance. It is a mutually binding contract between the buyer and seller and includes...

Asset Deal

What is an Asset Deal? An asset deal occurs when a buyer is interested in purchasing the operating assets of a business (instead of stock shares), and is a type of M&A transaction. In these cases, the buyer will complete the transaction by providing the selling company consideration for some or all of the assets they own....

Hostile Takeover

What is a Hostile Takeover? A hostile takeover, in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), is the acquisition of a target company by another company (referred to as the acquirer) by going directly to the target company’s shareholders, either by making a tender offer or through a proxy vote. The difference between a hostile and a friendly...

Poison Pill

What is a poison pill? The poison pill technique, sometimes also known as a shareholder rights plan, is a form of defense against a potential takeover. The Poison Pill is a structural maneuver designed to thwart attempted takeovers, where the target company seeks to make itself less desirable to potential acquirers. Poison pill tactics may...

Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Raising, & Other Transactions

M&A Process

Asset Purchase vs Stock Purchase

Investment Teaser