The difference between a merger and an acquisition is
a merger is the combining of two or more companies into a single corporate entity (with the newly created company often taking on a new name), whereas an acquisition is a combination in which one company, the acquirer, purchases and absorbs the operations of another, the acquired.
a merger involves one company purchasing the assets of another company with cash, whereas an acquisition involves one company becoming the owner of another company by buying all of the shares of its common stock.
a merger involves two or more companies deciding to adopt the same strategy, whereas an acquisition involves one company becoming the owner of another company but with each company still pursuing its own separate strategy.
nonexistent; in both instances, two companies become one.
the brands of both companies are retained in a merger, whereas with an acquisition, there is only one surviving brand name.