Concepts in Mergers and Acquisiion

CHAPTER-1

MERGER AND ACQUISITION: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The present chapter discusses the conceptual framework of mergers and acquisitions. It focuses on demarcations between various terms like mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, consolidations, reverse mergers, management buyouts etc. The concept of demerger is also introduced. Various Indian laws and statutes having a bearing on merger process have been outlined and trends traced. Few other related procedural issues are also covered.

"The decision to invest in a new asset would mean internal expansion for the firm. The new asset would generate returns raising the value of the corporation. Mergers offer an additional means of expansion, which is external, i.e. the productive operation is not within the corporation itself. For firms with limited investment opportunities, mergers can provide new areas for expansion. In addition to this benefit, the combination of two or more firms can offer several other advantages to each of the corporations such as operating economies, risk reduction and tax advantage1."

Today mergers, acquisitions and other types of strategic alliances are on the agenda of most industrial groups intending to have an edge over competitors. Stress is now being made on the larger and bigger conglomerates to avail the economies of scale and diversification. Different companies in India are expanding by merger etc. In fact, there has emerged a phenomenon called merger wave.

The terms merger, amalgamations, take-over and acquisitions are often used interchangeably to refer to a situation where two or more firms come together and combine into one to avail the benefits of such combinations and re-structuring in the form of merger etc., have been attempted to face the challenge of increasing competition and to achieve synergy in business operations.

1.1 Corporate Restructuring

Restructuring of business is an integral part of the new economic paradigm. As controls and restrictions give way to competition and free trade, restructuring and reorganization become essential. Restructuring usually involves major organizational change such as shift in corporate strategies to meet increased competition or changed market conditions.

1 Schall, L.D. and Hally C.W., Introduction to financial Management, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York, P.682.

This activity can take place internally in the form of new investments in plant and machinery, research and development at product and process levels. It can also take place externally through mergers and acquisitions (M&A)