What is a merger & acquisition?

A merger is the combination of two firms, which subsequently form a new legal entity under the banner of one corporate name. Mergers and acquisitions require the valuation of a company or its assets to decide how much to pay for those assets. M&A can be financed through a combination of debt, cash, and stock. What's an Acquisition?

What is a business acquisition?

An acquisition is a financial transaction that occurs when one business acquires the majority or all of its target’s shares. The goal of an acquisition is to gain control of the target’s operations, including its assets, production facilities, resources, market share, customer base, and other elements.

Which companies have recorded the largest mergers and acquisitions in history?

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at 25 companies that recorded the largest mergers and acquisitions in history. 1. Vodafone and Mannesmann (1999) - $202.8B ($373B adjusted for inflation) As of March 2024, the takeover of Mannesmann by Vodafone in 2000 was still one of the largest acquisitions ever made.