The main focus is to develop a solid understanding of the valuation of mergers and acquisitions from the perspective of a variety of stakeholders including: acquiring and target firm management, directors, and shareholders; financiers; consumers, and; competition regulators and policymakers. Themes to be explored include M&A and corporate strategy, motivations for M&A, corporate restructuring and divestitures, financing of M&A activity, dealing with competition authorities, and M&A 'waves' over the past century.