The distinction between a "merger" and an "acquisition" has become increasingly blurred in various respects (particularly in terms of the ultimate economic outcome), although it has not completely disappeared in all situations. From a legal point of view, a merger is a legal consolidation of two companies into one entity, whereas an acquisition occurs when one company takes over another and completely establishes itself as the new owner (in which case the target company still exists as an independent legal entity controlled by the acquirer). Either structure can result in the economic and financial consolidation of the two entities. In practice, a deal that is an acquisition for legal purposes may be euphemistically called a "merger of equals" if both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies, while when the deal is unfriendly (that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased) it is almost always regarded as an "acquisition".
Contents
* 1 Acquisition * 2 Legal structures * 3 Documentation * 4 Business valuation * 5 Financing M&A * 5.1 Cash * 5.2 Stock * 5.3 Financing options * 6 Specialist M&A advisory firms * 7 Motives * 8 Different Types of M&A * 8.1 Types of M&A by functional roles in market * 8.2 Arm's length mergers * 8.3 Strategic Mergers * 8.4 So-called 'Acqui-hires' * 9 M&A research and statistics for acquired organizations * 10 Brand considerations * 11 History of M&A * 11.1 The