Corporate acquisition


Corporate acquisition

The acquisition of one firm by another firm.

Acquisition

An investment in which a company or person buys a publicly-traded company, or, more commonly, most of the shares in that company. For example, if Corporation A buys 51% or more of Corporation B, then Corporation B becomes a subsidiary of Corporation A, and the activity is called an acquisition. A single investor may buy out a publicly-traded company; one calls this "going private." Acquisitions occur in exchange for cash, stock, or both. Acquisitions may be friendly or hostile; a friendly acquisition occurs when the board of directors supports the acquisition and a hostile acquisition occurs when it does not. See also: Antitakeover measure.