Sunday 13 May 2012

Business English - Distinction between mergers and acquisitions


When one company takes over another and clearly establishes itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer "swallows" the business and the buyer's stock continues to be traded.
In the pure sense of the term, a merger happens when
two firms agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a "merger of equals". The firms are often of about the same size. Both companies' stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place. In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don't happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal's terms, simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it is technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative connotations; therefore, by describing the deal euphemistically as a merger, deal makers and top managers try to make the takeover more palatable. 
A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly (that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased) it is always regarded as an acquisition.


takeover is the purchase of one company (the target) by another (the acquirer, or bidder). In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.

1 comment:

  1. Although the conditions are often used interchangeably and are very identical in characteristics, organization "mergers" and "acquisitions" are a little bit different. The term "mergers and acquisitions" actually has an formal acronym connected to it, M&A. You will often listen to both conditions generally known as consolidations. The primary objective for both is usually to flourish and improve company. A merging is when two organizations, often of relatively the same dimension, incorporate and together accept to progress as only one new organization rather than stay independently managed. Mergers do not happen nearly as often as products. An acquisition (also known as a takeover or buyout) is the purchasing of a organization and managing it.

    Mergers Acquisitions

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