Authoritative and completely up-to-date, the 4th Edition of The Art of M & A is an unsurpassed, one-stop guide to every facet of mergers and acquisitions that enables you to make winning deals with complete confidence.This definitive resource retains its popular Q & A format, offering quick access to all the changes that have occurred in the field since the merger wave of the 1990s. The book explores every key aspect of winning M & A transactions, and presents advice on avoiding common M & A pitfalls.The 4th Edition of The Art of M & A features vital information on:Getting Started in Mergers and Acquisitions -- learning the basic M & A process, requirements, negotiating skills, and objectivesPlanning and Finding -- deciding what to buy and then locating itValuation and Pricing -- using multiple valuation methods to discover the true value of an acquired company or unitThe Art of Financing and Refinancing -- mastering funding sources and issuesStructuring M/A/B Transactions -- managing general, tax, and accounting considerationsThe Due Diligence Inquiry -- looking into the past, present, and future risks of the business to be purchasedNegotiating the Acquisition Agreement and the Letter of Intent -- understanding two vital documents in the M & A processClosing -- synchronizing the many individual items to produce a harmonious transactionPost merger Integration and Divestitures -- following through after the M & A deal to capture the economic value of synergiesSpecial Issues for M & A in Public Companies examining the unique legal and business considerations of public entitiesWorkouts, Bankruptcies, and Liquidations -- handling specific financial problems that arise in M & A transactions with entities in the zone of insolvencyStructuring Transactions with International Aspects -- developing the necessary skills and knowledge to do M & A deals across national bordersFilled with detailed examples and case studies, this updated classic also includes discussion of purchase accounting, Section 404, new legal cases with M & A implications, and more.