Definition
A target company is a business that another company (the 'acquirer') wants to buy or take over. Think of it like a character in a video game that another player is trying to capture or defeat. The target company may be performing well or poorly, but the acquirer sees potential value in it. Unlike a willing merger, a target company might resist the takeover, leading to a battle. It's essentially a business that's 'in play' for acquisition.