acquisition

An online marketing term that describes the point at which your company has engaged a prospective customer in a dialogue or led the customer to register or purchase something (as opposed to merely getting the person's attention).

In financial circles and the VC world, this term refers to the act of one company taking over controlling interest in another company. Investors often look for companies that are likely acquisition candidates, because the acquiring firms are often willing to pay a premium to the market price for the shares.