The way one
pays for a
transaction. The three most basic methods of payment are
cash,
credit, and
payment-in-kind (or
bartering). These three methods are used in basic transactions; for example, one may pay for a candy bar with cash, a
credit card or, theoretically, even by trading another candy bar. However, they are also used in large transactions;
mergers and
acquisitions often occur with some combination of
cash,
bonds (which is a form of credit), and
stock (often exchanging one stock for another). See also:
Sale.