Before companies can complete a successful merger or acquisition, they need to know what they can expect from the other party. This involves a detailed process of due diligence, or an examination of an organization’s operations, financial information and technology. For technology-driven targets, technical due diligence is one of the key steps in determining the value of the deal, as well as potential pitfalls or liabilities involved in the integration.

M&A activity is set to rise in 2025 as finance leaders leverage tech-driven strategies to navigate economic uncertainty and enhance transactions. DFIN's latest Mergers and Acquisitions 2025 Trends Survey reveals that 60% of finance decision-makers aim to boost deal activity, focusing on growth, tech acquisition, and market expansion.

Fairness opinions play a critical role in mergers and acquisitions by providing boards and stakeholders with an independent assessment of a transaction’s financial fairness. These opinions support informed, defensible decision-making, especially in high-value or high-scrutiny deals. Unlike standard valuation analyses, a comprehensive fairness opinion considers not just valuation metrics but also deal structure, market conditions and potential alternatives.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, in-person shareholder meetings were standard. But mandated building closures and limits on the number of people allowed in a room became the norm for an extended time in 2020, creating obstacles and requiring companies to consider alternatives.

Presenting a financial report to leadership goes beyond numbers—it's about crafting a clear, compelling story that drives decision-making and aligns with business goals. This is your chance to shape strategy, highlight risks, and showcase company performance. Leadership teams seek focused insights, explained simply and purposefully.

This guide will help you prepare, structure, and deliver effective financial report presentations that resonate with leadership, emphasize key points, and inspire confident, informed action.

What Is SEC Form 25? 

Once companies register securities on the public exchanges, whether voluntarily or due to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, they must meet regular requirements to keep their securities available on those exchanges. Over time, business administrators may decide that it is not in the company’s interest to maintain the listing. In this case, they could request that their securities be delisted and deregistered from centralized exchanges. 

When funds register securities, they have to specify how many shares they plan to create. But what if they don’t have a specific number to sell? What if they want to keep the fund open-ended, so investors can purchase new shares over time? After the initial registration statement, open-ended funds need a way to acknowledge and pay fees for shares they sell in subsequent years. They can achieve this goal by filing SEC Form 24f-2.

The process for managing the shares owned by a company or fund is complicated, calling for a trained and registered professional to handle the work. The financial experts who handle these issues are known as transfer agents. In order to become a transfer agent, organizations must apply to the SEC (or their primary banking regulator) using Form TA-1. This form provides the necessary information for the regulator to process the registration and place the organization on record as a transfer agent. 

NEW YORK — September 24, 2025 – Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE: DFIN) today introduced DFIN Venue, its virtual data room (VDR), following a comprehensive rebuild. The new Venue keeps the familiar name while delivering a modern architecture, streamlined navigation, intelligent permissioning, and real-time insights to speed due diligence and simplify collaboration for M&A, capital raising, and IPO work.