Where can I find templates for creating deal tombstones?
- Acknowledge Designs Team
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
If you’re in corporate finance or investment banking and a deal has just completed, one of the first questions that follows is:
“Does anyone have templates for deal tombstones we can use?”
Whether it’s for an M&A transaction, private equity investment, refinancing or IPO, getting the wording and layout right is just as important as the design itself.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Where to find deal tombstone templates
What a good tombstone layout should include
Example text structures bankers commonly use
How to access editable PowerPoint layouts
Can you download deal tombstone templates online?
You’ll find plenty of generic award templates online - but very few that are specifically designed for financial transactions.
That’s because deal tombstones are:
Highly structured
Compliance-sensitive
Brand-aligned
Often legally reviewed
Most banks and advisory firms either:
Reuse previous internal layouts
Adapt old artwork files
Or start from scratch each time
The challenge?Older layouts don’t always reflect your current brand, and starting from scratch slows everything down.
That’s why having a clean, professionally structured layout template makes life much easier.
What should a deal tombstone template include?
A strong tombstone layout is clear, balanced and hierarchy-led.
It should include:
Acquirer / Investor
Target / Company
Deal description
Transaction type
Completion date
Advisory credits
(Optional) Deal value
But more importantly, it should have:
Clear typographic hierarchy
Alignment that feels intentional
Correct legal phrasing
Flexibility for different deal types
Below are common layout structures bankers use.
Example Deal Tombstone Text Layouts
1. Classic Acquisition Layout
[ACQUIRER LOGO]has acquired
[TARGET LOGO]
Month Year
Financial Adviser to [Party Name]
Example wording:
ABC Capital Partnershas acquired
XYZ Engineering Limited
September 2025
Financial Adviser to ABC Capital Partners
2. Private Equity Investment Layout
[INVESTOR NAME]has invested in
[COMPANY NAME]
In partnership with management
Month Year
Adviser to [Party Name]
Example:
Northbridge Private Equityhas invested in
ClearTech Solutions Ltd
In partnership with management
June 2025
Lead Financial Adviser to ClearTech Solutions Ltd
3. Sell-Side Advisory Layout
[SHAREHOLDER NAME]has sold
[COMPANY NAME]
to
[ACQUIRER NAME]
Month Year
Adviser to the Shareholders
Example:
The Shareholders ofGreenfield Logistics Ltd
have sold the company to
TransGlobal Group plc
October 2025
Lead Adviser to the Shareholders
4. Debt / Refinancing Layout
[COMPANY NAME]
has secured
£XX million
Senior Debt Facilities
provided by
[LENDER NAME]
Month Year
Adviser to [Party]
5. IPO Layout
[COMPANY NAME]
Initial Public Offering
£XXX million
Admission to[Exchange Name]
Month Year
Financial Adviser and Broker
Formatting Best Practice for Bankers
When structuring tombstone text, remember:
Keep it concise
Tombstones are not press releases. They are recognition pieces.
Use consistent legal entity names
Always confirm Companies House registered names.
Be mindful of deal value disclosure
Only include transaction value if publicly announced.
Align logos properly
Logos should be equal in weight and visual hierarchy unless intentionally designed otherwise.
Keep adviser credits subtle
Recognition matters - but the deal should remain the hero.
Why structured templates save time
In busy deal teams, tombstones are often arranged last-minute once completion hits.
Having a pre-approved layout:
Speeds up internal sign-off
Reduces compliance risk
Ensures brand consistency
Avoids awkward spacing issues
A strong template allows you to simply update:
Names
Dates
Values
Adviser roles
Without redesigning the whole layout every time.
Can I get editable deal tombstone templates?
Yes.
At Acknowledge, we provide professionally structured PowerPoint tombstone text layouts that bankers and advisers can use internally before artwork goes into production.
These include:
Acquisition layouts
Investment layouts
Sell-side layouts
Debt / refinancing layouts
IPO layouts
Multiple hierarchy variations
Clean typographic structures ready for brand customisation
If you’d like a copy of our editable PowerPoint layouts, simply email:
We’re happy to share structured layouts to make your next deal smoother.
Deal tombstones may look simple, but strong layout structure makes all the difference.
A well-balanced tombstone communicates professionalism, credibility and experience. A rushed layout can undermine months of hard work.
If you’re regularly completing transactions, having professional templates on hand is a smart investment, and we’re here to help.
If you’d like editable layouts or support creating a fully bespoke deal tombstone design, just get in touch.
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