This book provides a concise guide to mergers and acquisitions for professionals needing M&A knowledge. It covers understanding legal and regulatory environments, structuring deals from financial, tax, and accounting standpoints, and analyzing valuation models to gauge the effects of a potential merger. The book combines the best components of a live seminar with the detail of a textbook, offering qualitative and quantitative M&A tools for executives. J. Fred Weston is the Cordner Professor of Money and Financial Markets at UCLA and has authored several business titles.

Drawing from UCLA’s executive education program, this guide is designed to equip professionals with essential M&A knowledge. The book focuses on practical application, covering the legal, financial, tax, and accounting aspects of deal structuring, alongside valuation analysis. Its approach aims to blend the interactive nature of a seminar with the comprehensive detail of a textbook. The content is geared towards providing executives with the necessary tools for navigating mergers and acquisitions.