Information on Mergers and Acquisitions in Switzerland:
Share Deal and Asset Deal

Terminology

Business

The business is an organisational unit with an economic focus in which right holders allocate the totality of their rights and duties.

Business composition

Businesses are as a rule composed of:

  • assets
    • real estate
    • moveable property
    • receivables, securities and other claims
    • cash
  • liabilities
    • long-term debts
    • short-term debts
    • equity capital

Business value

The value of a business is determined not only on the basis of hard facts such as assets or liabilities, but rather also soft factors such as

  • know how
  • the customer base
  • goodwill / image.

Goodwill is often not only the reason for the decision to purchase, but also one of the major factors in determining the price.