What is the distinctive difference between 'Merger' and 'Acquisition'?

Answer 1

Merger: The statutory combination of two or more corporations in which one of the corporations survives and the other corporations cease to exist.

Acquisition: the act of one corporation acquiring a controlling interest in another corporation. In an "unfriendly" takeover, the buying corporation may offer incentives to stockholders such as offering a price well above the current market value.

Answer 2

The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as other assets. Usually mergers occur in a friendly setting where executives from the respective companies participate in a due diligence process to ensure a successful combination of all parts.
On other occasions, acquisitions can happen through a hostile takeover by purchasing the majority of outstanding shares of a company in the open market.

Breifly stated a merger happens when two entities decide to join together - like 2 people agreeing to be married. An aquisition happens when one entity takes another entity - like shotgun weddings or arranged marriages. I hope that helps.
For a more detailed explanation please see web page listed as my source.

Answer 3

Nice question. You can probably make no difference between a merger and a non hostile Aquisition.

The key difference is the initiation, in case of merger both the parties find benefits, and chalk out the merger, finding synergies. In case of an acquisition one party sees the benefit of acquiring another and pays the price...

Answer 4

A acquisition is company A buying company B. Company B pretty much loses its identity after the acquisition is complete.
A merger is two companies A and B coming together to form one entity. Neither entirely loses its identity. Example - Arcelor-Mittal.

Similarities between M and A
- 2 balance sheets become 1 balance sheet upon conclusion
- usually done because the two entities together are more valueble than as seperate entities.

Differences
- Indentities of the entities involved as explained above
- Effect on shareholders.

Answer 5

The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as other assets. Usually mergers occur in a friendly setting where executives from the respective companies participate in a due diligence process to ensure a successful combination of all parts. On other occasions, acquisitions can happen through a hostile takeover by purchasing the majority of outstanding shares of a company in the open market. In the United States, business laws vary from state to state whereby some companies have limited protection against hostile takeovers. One form of protection against a hostile takeover is the shareholder rights plan, otherwise known as the "poison pill". See Delaware corporations. Historically, mergers have often failed to add significantly to the value of the acquiring firm's shares. Corporate mergers may be aimed at reducing market competition, cutting costs (for example, laying off employees), reducing taxes, removing management, "empire building" by the acquiring managers, or other purposes which may not be consistent with public policy or public welfare. Thus they can be heavily regulated, requiring, for example, approval in the US by both the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice.

Answer 6

In merger the entities become one after merger. In acquisition, the entities need not become one.

Answer 7

Merger is when two merge to make one, whereas an acquisition is when a company is bought outright.

Answer 8

Merger is more like a marriage between two equals or reasonably equaly companies. Acquisitons is more like a parent/child relationship. One company takes over the other one.

Answer 9

Merger...2 equals combine.
Acq....one co. buys out another.