Mergers & Acquisitions Comparative Guide

1 Deal structure

1.1 How are private and public M&A transactions typically structured in your jurisdiction?

In Cyprus, private M&A transactions are commonly structured as asset sales or share sales, while in some cases a court-sanctioned arrangement may also be suitable.

An asset sale involves the buyer acquiring specific assets of the target, such as:

• physical assets;
• intellectual property; and
• contracts.

The target, as the entity holding these assets, acts as the seller or assignor.

In a share sale, the buyer acquires shares from the shareholders of the target, thereby gaining control of the company and all of its assets, liabilities and operations. This differs from an asset sale in that: