The legal environment in which publicly listed companies operate in Germany has changed fundamentally in the last 10 years - a process that culminated in 2002 with the new German Takeover Act. The combination of this new act with favourable changes to the tax regime is expected to boost M&A prospects in Germany. For companies seeking to enter the German market and for their advisors this book provides an essential guide to the legal issues arising from a takeover and merger from both the bidder's and the target's perspective.