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Mergers and acquisitions

A mergers and acquisitions transaction refers to a transaction in which one issuer obtains control of all or part of the business of another issuer. Mergers and acquisitions transactions may be structured in several different ways, including:

  • take-over bids

  • plans of arrangement

  • amalgamations

  • asset sales

  • corporate restructurings

  • going-private transactions

The regulatory framework for mergers and acquisitions transactions requires careful interpretation due to a few important considerations, such as:

  • the overlapping requirements of securities law and corporate law

  • the distinctive requirements that apply to corporate voting transactions and take-over bids

  • the concurrent jurisdiction of the courts and securities regulators on certain mergers and acquisitions issues

  • the imposition of additional securities law requirements on mergers and acquisitions transactions that raise major conflict of interest concerns