The difference between a merger and an acquisition is

a merger is the combining of two or more companies into a singlecorporate entity (with the newly created company often taking on anew name), whereas an acquisition is a combination in which onecompany, the acquirer, purchases and absorbs the operations ofanother, the acquired.

a merger involves one company purchasing the assets of anothercompany with cash, whereas an acquisition involves one companybecoming the owner of another company by buying all of the sharesof its common stock.

a merger involves two or more companies deciding to adopt thesame strategy, whereas an acquisition involves one company becomingthe owner of another company but with each company still pursuingits own separate strategy.

nonexistent; in both instances, two companies become one.

the brands of both companies are retained in a merger, whereaswith an acquisition, there is only one surviving brand name.