Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Central University of South Bihar: Submitted To Course Instructor Submitted by Student
Central University of South Bihar: Submitted To Course Instructor Submitted by Student
Project-Topic
“Meaning and Concept of Merger and Acquisition”
Page 1 of 29
CONTENTS
Introduction
Types of Mergers
Definitions of Acquisition
Kinds of Acquisition
Conclusion
Bibliography
Page 2 of 29
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At this point of time I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me their
support to complete this project.
I am grateful to my Merger & Acquisition Law teacher, who is Mr. Mani Pratap for
giving me permission to commence this project in the first instance and to do necessary
study and research. I want to thank law faculty members and other faculty members for
all their professional advice, value added time, effort and enterprise help, support, interest
and valuable hints that encouraged me to go ahead with my project.
My heartfelt appreciation also goes to seniors and my classmate for their stimulating
suggestions and encouragement which helped me at each level of my research and in
writing of this project.
Especially, I would like to give my special thanks to my parents, family members and
god whose patient love enabled me to complete this project.
I have tried my best to enclose practical approach of meaning and concept of merger and
acquisition and also theoretical approach to my project.
Amitesh-Tejaswi
Page 3 of 29
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Method of Research
The researcher has adopted a purely doctrinal method of research. The researcher has
made extensive use of the available resources at library of the Central University of South
Bihar and also the internet sources.
Though the study of this topic is an immense project and pages can be written over the
topic but due to certain restrictions and limitations the researcher has not been able to
deal with the topic in great detail.
Sources of Data:
The following secondary sources of data have been used in the project-
1. Cases
2. Books
3. Journals
Method of Writing:
The method of writing followed in the course of this research paper is primarily
analytical.
Mode of Citation
The researcher has followed the Indian Law Institute of citation throughout the course of
this research paper.
Page 4 of 29
Introduction: - An entrepreneur may grow its business either by internal expansion or by
external expansion. In case of internal expansion a firm grows gradually over time, through
acquisition of new assets, replacement of the technologically obsolete equipments etc. But in
external expansion, a firm acquires a running business and grows overnight through corporate
combinations. These combinations are often in the form mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations
and takeovers. Mergers and Acquisitions are now a critical part of the fabric of doing business
and are deeply ingrained in the business strategy world over.
The global financial services industry has also experienced merger waves mainly due to severe
competition which puts focus on economies of scale, cost efficiency, and profitability and the
“too big to fail” principle followed by the authorities. This project aims to study the impact of
M&As on the Indian banking industry.
During the last two decades, the Indian banking sector has undergone a metamorphic change
following the economic reform process initiated by the Government of India. The forces of
globalization, deregulation and liberalization unleashed by the economic reforms, set in motion
in 1991, have transformed the face of the Indian financial services sector landscape , including
that of the Indian banking sector in a big way. There has been a paradigm shift from a regulated
to a deregulated environment. The economic liberalization and deregulation measures initiated in
the 1990s have opened up the doors to foreign competition and made the markets more efficient
and competitive. Continuous innovation and keeping pace with technological change have
become a must for survival of the firms in the financial services industry including the banking
sector. The developments in the Indian banking sector have witnessed quite a few mergers and
acquisitions (M&A s).1
The Narsimham Committee report in August 1991 highlighted the need for financial sector
reforms and fostering competitive spirit in the Indian banking sector. In 1997, a second
committee was set (under M. Narsimham) to specifically suggested mergers among strong banks
both in the public and private sectors.
1
Mergers & Acquisitions in India, Available at: http://www.nishithdesai.com (last visited on December 17, 2020).
Page 5 of 29
Since the onset of reforms in 1990, according to RBI report, 22 bank amalgamations, have taken
place in India (up to 2007). While, the amalgamations of Indian banks were mostly driven by
weak financials, in the post 1999 period there have been mergers between healthy banks
prompted by business and commercial considerations.
Merger and acquisition activity in the United States has typically run in cycles, with peaks
coinciding with periods of strong business growth. U.S. merger activity has been marked by five
prominent waves: one around the turn of the twentieth century, the second peaking in 1929, the
third in the latter half of the 1960s, the fourth in the first half of the 1980s, and the fifth in the
latter half of the 1990s.
This last peak, in the final years of the twentieth century, brought very high levels of merger
activity. Bolstered by a strong stock market, businesses merged at an unprecedented rate. The
total dollar volume of mergers increased throughout the 1990s, setting new records each year
from 1994 to 1999. Many of the acquisitions involved huge companies and enormous dollar
amounts. Disney acquired ABC Capital Cities z acquired Citicorp for $72.6 billion, Nation Bank
acquired Bank of America for $61.6 billion and Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler for $39.5
billion.2
There are many reasons or factors that motivate companies to go for mergers and acquisitions
such as growth, synergy, diversification etc.
1. Growth: One of the most common reason for mergers is growth. There are two broadways a
firm can grow. The first is through internal growth. This can be slow and ineffective if a firm is
seeking to take advantage of a window of opportunity in which it has a short-term advantage
2
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available at:
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
Page 6 of 29
over competitors. The faster alternative is to merge and acquire the necessary resources to
achieve competitive goals.3
Even though bidding firms will pay a premium to acquire resources through mergers, this total
cost is not necessarily more expensive than internal growth, in which the firm has to incur all of
the costs that the normal trial and error process may impose. While there are exceptions, in the
vast majority of cases growth through mergers and acquisitions is significantly faster than
through internal means. Mergers can give the acquiring company an opportunity to grow market
share without having to really earn it by doing the work themselves - instead, they buy a
competitor's business for a price. Usually, these are called horizontal mergers. For example, a
beer company may choose to buy out a smaller competing brewery, enabling the smaller
company to make more beer and sell more to its brand-loyal customers.4
Example- RPG group had a turnover of only Rs. 80 crores in 1979, which has increased to about
Rs.5600 crores in1996. This phenomenal growth was due to the acquisitions of several
companies by the RPG group. Some of the companies acquired are Asian Cables, Calcutta
Electricity Supply and Company, etc.
2. Synergy: Another commonly cited reason for mergers is the pursuit of synergistic benefits.
The most commonly used word in Mergers & Acquisitions is synergy, which is the idea of
combining business activities, for increasing performance and reducing the costs. Essentially, a
business will
attempt to merge with another business that has complementary strengths and weaknesses. This
is the new financial math that shows that 1 + 1 = 3. That is, as the equation shows, the
combination of two firms will yield a more valuable entity than the value of the sum of the two
firms if they were operating independently.5
Although many merger partners cite synergy as the motive for their transaction, synergistic gains
are often hard to realize. There are two types of synergy one is derived from cost economies and
other one is derived from revenue enhancement. Cost economies are the easier to achieve
3
Ibid
4
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-117 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
5
Ibid at 118
Page 7 of 29
because they often involve eliminating duplicate cost factors such as redundant personnel and
overhead.6
When such synergies are realized, the merged company generally has lower per-unit costs.
Revenue enhancing synergy is more difficult to predict and to achieve. An example would be a
situation where one company’s capability, such as research process, is combined with another
company’s capability, such as marketing skills, to significantly increase the combined revenues.
4. Economies of scale: Yes, size matters. Whether it's purchasing stationery or a new corporate
it system, a bigger company placing the orders can save more on costs. Mergers also translate
into improved purchasing power to buy equipment or office supplies - when placing larger
orders, companies have a greater ability to negotiate prices with their suppliers. This refers to the
fact that the combined company can often reduce duplicate departments or operations, lowering
the costs of the company relative to theoretically the same revenue stream, thus increasing
profit.8
5. Increase Market Share & Revenue: This reason assumes that the company will be absorbing
a major competitor and increasing its power (by capturing increased market share) to set prices.
Companies buy companies to reach new markets and grow revenues and earnings. A merge may
expand two companies' marketing and distribution, giving them new sales opportunities. A
merger can also improve a company's standing in the investment community: bigger firms often
6
Mergers & Acquisitions in India, Available at: http://www.nishithdesai.com (last visited on December 17, 2020).
7
Corporate Finance Institute, available at: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/deals/mergers-
acquisitions-ma/ (Last visited on December 17, 2020).
8
Mergers & Acquisitions in India, Available at: http://www.nishithdesai.com (last visited on December 17, 2020).
Page 8 of 29
have an easier time raising capital than smaller ones. Example-Premier and Apollo Tyres,9
6. Increase Supply-Chain Pricing Power: By buying out one of its suppliers or one of the
distributors, a business can eliminate a level of costs. If a company buys out one of its
suppliers, it is able to save on the margins that the supplier was previously adding to its costs;
this is known as a vertical merger. If a company buys out a distributor; it may be able to sale its
products at a lower cost.10
7. Eliminate Competition: Many mergers and acquisitions deals allow the acquirer to eliminate
future competition and gain a larger market share in its product's market. The downside of this is
that a large premium is usually required to convince the target company's shareholders to accept
the offer. It is not uncommon for the acquiring company's shareholders to sell their shares and
push the price lower in response to the company paying too much for the target company.
8. Acquiring new technology: To stay competitive, companies need to stay on top of
technological developments and their business applications. By buying a smaller company with
unique technologies, a large company can maintain or develop a competitive edge and vice
versa.11
9. Procurement of production facilities: Procurement of production facilities may be the
reason for acquiring company to go for mergers and acquisition. It is a kind of backward
integration. Acquiring Firms will take the decision of merging with another firm who supplies
raw material to acquiring firm in order to safeguard the sources of supplies of raw material or
intermediary product. It will help acquiring firm to bring economies in purchasing of raw
material. It will also help to cut down the transportation cost. Example- Videocon takes over
Thomson picture tube in China to procure supply of picture tube required for producing
television sets.
9
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-123 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
10
Navpreet, Mergers and Acquisitions in India, Available at: http://www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/amer.html
(Last visited on December 17, 2020).
11
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
Page 9 of 29
10. Market expansion strategy: Many firms go for mergers and acquisitions as a part of
market expansion strategy. Mergers and acquisitions will help the company to eliminate
competition and to protect existing market. It will also help the firm to obtain new market for
promoting their existing or obsolete products. For example, Lenovo takes over IBM in India to
increase market for Lenovo products like desktops, laptops in India.12
11. Financial synergy: Financial synergy may be the reason for mergers and acquisitions.
Following are the financial synergy available in case of mergers and acquisitions;
Better credit worthiness- This helps companies to purchase good on credit, obtain bank
loan and raise capital in the market easily.
Reduces cost of capital- The investors consider big firms as safe and hence they expect
lower rate of return for the capital supplied by them. So the cost of capital reduces after
merger.
Increase debt capacity- After the merger the earnings and cash flows become more
stable than before. This increase the capacity of the firm to borrow more funds.
Rising of capital- After the merger due to increase in the size of the company, better
credit worthiness and reputation the company can easily raise the capital at any time.13
12. Own development plans: The purpose of mergers & acquisition is backed by the acquiring
company’s own developmental plans. A company thinks in terms of acquiring the other company
only when it has arrived at its own development plan to expand its operation having examined its
own internal strength where it might not have any problem of taxation, accounting, valuation,
etc. but might feel resource constraints with limitations of funds and lack of skill managerial
personnel. It has to aim at suitable combination where it could have opportunities to supplement
its funds by issuance of securities; secure additional financial facilities eliminate competition and
strengthen its market position.14
13. Corporate friendliness: Although it is rare but it is true that business houses exhibit
degrees of cooperative spirit despite competitiveness in providing rescues to each other from
12
Ibid
13
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
14
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-149 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
Page 10 of 29
hostile takeovers and cultivate situations of collaborations sharing goodwill of each other to
achieve performance heights through business combinations. The combining corporate aims at
circular combinations by pursuing this objective
14. General gains:
To improve its own image and attract superior managerial talents to manage its affairs.
To offer better satisfaction to consumers or users of the product.15
15. Taxes: A profitable company can buy a loss maker to use the target's loss as their advantage
by reducing their tax liability. In the United States and many other countries, rules are in place to
limit the ability of profitable companies to "shop" for loss making companies, limiting the tax
motive of an acquiring company.
Ahmadabad Cotton Mills Merged with Arvind Mills ( Rs =3.34 crores)
Sidhaper Mills merged with Reliance Industries Ltd.(Rs. 3.34 crores)16
Definitions of Merger:-
Mergers involve the mutual decision of two companies to combine & become one entity. The
combined business can cut cost of operation & increase profit which will boost shareholders
value for both groups of shareholders. In Merger of two corporations, shareholders usually have
their shares in the old organization & are exchanged for an equal numbers of shares in the
merged entity.
According to the Oxford Dictionary “merger” means “combining of two companies into one”.
Merger is a fusion between two or more enterprises, whereby the identity of one or more is lost
and the result is a single enterprise. In merger the assets and liabilities of the companies get
vested in another company, the company that is merged losing its identity and its shareholders
becoming shareholders of the other company.17 All assets, liabilities and the stock of one
company are transferred to Transferee Company in consideration of payment in the form of:
Equity shares in the transferee company,
Debentures in the transferee company,
Cash, or
15
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
16
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
17
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
Page 11 of 29
A mix of the above modes.
In the pure sense, a merger happens when two firms, often of about the same size, agree to go
forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of
action is more precisely referred to as a "merger of equals." For example, both Daimler-Benz and
Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged, and a new company, Daimler Chrysler, was
created.18
A merger can be defined as the fusion or the absorption of one company by another. It may also
be understood as an arrangement; thereby the assets of two or more companies get transferred to
or come under the control of one company.
In common practice, in merger one of the two existing companies merges its identity into another
existing company or one or more existing companies may form a new company and merge their
identities into a new company by transferring their business and undertakings including all assets
and liabilities to the new company. The shareholders of the company whose identity has been
merged are then issued as the shares in the capital of the company merged.
Amalgamation legal process by which two or more companies are joined together to form a new
entity or one or more companies are to be absorbed or blended with another and as a
consequence the amalgamating company loses its existence and its shareholders become the
shareholders of the new company or the amalgamated company. The word amalgamation or
merger is not defined anywhere under the companies act 1956.19
However, [Section 2(1A)] of the Income Tax Act, 1961 defines amalgamation as follows:
“Amalgamation”, in relation to companies, means the merger of one or more companies with
another company or the merger of two or more companies to form one company (the company or
companies which so merge being referred to as the amalgamating company or companies and the
company with which they merge or which is formed as a result of the merger, as the
amalgamated company) in such a manner that-
18
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-251 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
19
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
Page 12 of 29
i. all the property of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the
amalgamation becomes the property of the amalgamated company by virtue of the
amalgamation;
ii. all the liabilities of the amalgamating company or companies immediately before the
amalgamation become the liabilities of the amalgamated company by virtue of the
amalgamation;20
iii. shareholders holding not less than three fourths in value of the shares in the
amalgamating company or companies(other than shares already held therein immediately
before the amalgamation by, or by a nominee for, the amalgamated company or its
subsidiary become shareholders of the amalgamated company by virtue of the
amalgamation, otherwise than as a result of the acquisition of the property of one
company by another company pursuant to the purchase of such property by the other
company or as a result of the distribution of such property to the other company after the
winding up of the first mention company.
Types of Mergers:-
There are three main types of mergers which are Horizontal merger, Vertical merger &
Conglomerate merger. These types are explained as follows;
1. Horizontal Merger:- This type of merger involves two firms that operate & compete in a
similar kind of a business. Horizontal merger is based on the assumptions that it will provide
economies of scale from the larger combined unit. The economies of scale are obtained by the
elimination of duplication of facilities, broadening the product line, reduction in the advertising
cost. Horizontal mergers also have potentials to create monopoly power on the part of the
combined firm enabling it to engage in anti-competitive practices.22
Examples: -
20
The Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 2 (1A)
21
The Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 2 (1A)
22
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
Page 13 of 29
1. Mumbai - Glaxo India Limited and Smith Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (India)
Limited have legally merged to form GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited in India
(GSK). A merger would let them pool their research & development funds and would
give the merged company a bigger sales and marketing force.
2. Merger of Centurion Bank & Bank of Punjab.
3. Merger between Holicim & Gujarat Ambuja Cement ltd
2. Vertical Merger:- A vertical Merger involves merger between firms that are in different
stages of production or value chain. A company involved in vertical merger usually seeks to
merge with another company or would like to takeover another company mainly to expand its
operations by backward or forward integration. The acquiring company through merger of
another units attempt to reduce inventory of raw materials and finished goods. The basic purpose
of vertical merger is to eliminate cost of searching raw materials. Vertical merger takes place
when both firm plan to integrate the production process and capitalize on the demand for the
product. A company decides to get merged with another company when it is not in a position to
get strong position in a market because of imperfect market of intermediary product, scarcity of
resources. Example: - Among the Indian corporate that have emerged as big international players
is the Videocon group. The group became the third largest colour picture tube manufacturer in
the world when it announced the purchase of the colour picture tube business of France-based
Thomson SA, which includes units in Mexico, Poland and China, for about Rs 1260 crore.23
3. Conglomerate merger:- Conglomerate mergers means mergers between firms engaged in
unrelated types of business activity. The basic purpose of such combination is utilization of
financial resources. Such type of merger enhances the overall stability of the acquirer company
and creates balance in the company’s total portfolio of diverse products and production processes
and thereby reduces the risk of instability in the firm’s cash flows.24
Conglomerate mergers can be distinguished into three types:
I. Product extension mergers These are mergers between firms in related business
activities and may also be called concentric mergers. These mergers broaden the product
lines of the firms.
23
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
24
Shopify Available at: https://www.shopify.in/encyclopedia/mergers-and-acquisitions (Last visited on December
17, 2020).
Page 14 of 29
II. Geographic market extension mergers: These involve a merger between two firms
operating in two different geographic areas.
III. Pure conglomerates mergers: These involve mergers between two firms with unrelated
business activities. They do not come under product extension or market extension.25
4. Congeneric Mergers – These are mergers between entities engaged in the same general
industry and somewhat interrelated, but having no common customer-supplier relationship. A
company uses this type of merger in order to use the resulting ability to use the same sales and
distribution channels to reach the customers of both businesses.26
5. Cash Merger- In a 'cash merger', otherwise called a 'cash out merger', the investors of one
element gets money of offers in the blended substance. This is successfully an exit for the got the
money for out investors.
6. Triangular Merger-A triangular merger is regularly turned to, for administrative and charge
reasons. As the name proposes, it is a tripartite plan in which the objective converges with a
backup of the acquirer. In view of which substance is the survivor after such merger, a triangular
merger might be forward (when the target converges into the backup and the auxiliary endures),
or inverted merger.27
Definition of Acquisition:-
An acquisition usually refers to a purchase of a smaller firm by a larger one. Acquisition, also
known as a takeover or a buyout, is the buying of one company by another. Acquisitions or
takeovers occur between the bidding company and the target company. There may be either
hostile or friendly takeovers. Acquisition in general sense is acquiring the ownership in the
property. In the context of business combinations, an acquisition is the purchase by one company
of a controlling interest in the share capital, or the all or substantially all of the assets and/or
liabilities, of another company. A takeover may be friendly or hostile, depending on the offeror
company’s approach, and may be affected through agreements between the offeror and the
25
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-149 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
26
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
27
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
Page 15 of 29
majority shareholders, purchase of shares from the open market, or by making an offer for
acquisition of the offeree shares to the entire body of shareholders.28
An acquisition is when one company purchases most or all of another company's shares to gain
control of that company. Purchasing more than 50% of a target firm's stock and other assets
allows the acquirer to make decisions about the newly acquired assets without the approval of
the company’s other shareholders. Acquisitions, which are very common in business, may occur
with the target company's approval, or in spite of its disapproval. With approval, there is often a
no-shop clause during the process. We mostly hear about acquisitions of large well-known
companies because these huge and significant deals tend to dominate the news. In reality,
mergers and acquisitions (M&A) occur more regularly between small- to medium-size firms than
between large companies.29
Acquisition in general sense is acquiring the ownership in the property. In the context of business
combinations, an acquisition is the purchase by one company of a controlling interest in the share
capital of another existing company.
On the other hand, Acquisition means the purchase of a smaller company by much larger one. A
larger company can initiate an Acquisition of smaller firm which essentially amounts to buy the
company in the face of resistance from smaller company’s management. Unlike Mergers in an
Acquisition the acquiring firm usually offers a cash price per share to target firm’s shareholders.
Acquisition means an attempt by one firm to gain majority interest in the another firm called
target firm &dispose-off its assets or to take the target firm private by small group of investors.
A company can buy another company with cash, stock or a combination of the two. Another
possibility, which is common in smaller deals, is for one company to acquire all the assets of
another company. 30
28
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-251 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
29
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-251 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
30
Ibid at P-236
Page 16 of 29
An acquisition may be affected by;
a) agreement with the persons holding majority interest in the company management like
members of the board or major shareholders commanding majority of voting power;
b) purchase of shares in open market;
c) to make takeover offer to the general body of shareholders;
d) purchase of new shares by private treaty;
e) Acquisition of share capital through the following forms of considerations viz. means of
cash, issuance of loan capital, or insurance of share capital.31
Kinds of Acquisition:-
There are broadly two kinds of strategies that can be employed in corporate acquisitions. These
include:
I. Friendly Takeover:-The acquiring firm makes a financial proposal to the target firm’s
management and board. This proposal might involve the merger of the two firms, the
consolidation of two firms, or the creation of parent/subsidiary relationship.
II. Hostile Takeover:- A hostile takeover may not follow a preliminary attempt at a friendly
takeover. For example, it is not uncommon for an acquiring firm to embrace the target
firm’s management in what is colloquially called a bear hug.32
Although they are often uttered in the same breath and used as though they were synonymous,
the terms merger and acquisition mean slightly different things. When one company takes over
another and clearly established itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition.
From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist, the buyer "swallows" the business
and the buyer's stock continues to be traded.
In the pure sense of the term, a merger happens when two firms, often of about the same size,
agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated.
31
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
32
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-251 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
Page 17 of 29
This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a "merger of equals." Both companies' stocks
are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place.
For example, both Daimler-Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged, and a
new company, DaimlerChrysler, was created.In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don't
happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal's terms,
simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it's
technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative connotations, therefore, by
describing the deal as a merger, deal makers and top managers try to make the takeover more
palatable.
A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both CEOs agree that joining together is in the
best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly - that is, when the target
company does not want to be purchased - it is always regarded as an acquisition.
Accelerating a company’s growth particularly when its internal growth is constrained due to
paucity of resources, internal growth requires that a company should develop its operating
facilities- manufacturing, research, marketing, etc. But lack or inadequacy of resources and time
needed for internal development may constrain a company's pace of growth. Hence, a company
can acquire production facilities as well as other resources from outside through mergers and
acquisitions to acquire requisite infrastructure and skills and grow quickly.34
33
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
34
Ibid
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1. Economies of Scale: - Arise when increase in the volume of production leads to a reduction
in cost of production per unit. This is because, with merger, fixed costs are distributed over a
large volume of production causing the unit cost of production to decline. Economies of scale
may also arise from other indivisibilities such as production facilities, management functions and
management resources and systems.
2. Operating Economies: - Arise because, a combination of two or more firms may result in
cost reduction due to operating economies. In other words, a combined firm may avoid or reduce
overlapping functions and consolidate its management functions such as manufacturing,
marketing, R&D and thus reduce operating costs. For example, a combined firm may eliminate
duplicate channels of distribution etc.
3. Synergy: - Implies a situation where the combined firm is more valuable than the sum of the
individual combining firms. It refers to benefits other than those related to economies of scale.
Operating economies are one form of synergy benefits. But apart from operating economies,
synergy may also arise from enhanced managerial capabilities, creativity, innovativeness, R&D
and market coverage capacity due to the complementary resources and skills and a widened
horizon of opportunities.35
4. Tax Savings:- A profitable company can buy a loss making unit to use the targets tax write
offs.
5. Greater Value Generation: Companies go for Merger and Acquisitions from the idea that,
the joint company will be able to generate more value than the separate firms. When a company
buys out another, it expects that the newly generated shareholder value will be higher than the
value of the sum of the share s of the two separate companies.36
6. Gain in Market Share: - Merger and Acquisition can prove to be really beneficial to the
companies when they are weathering through the tough times. If the company which is suffering
from various problems in the market and is not able to overcome the difficulties, it can go for an
35
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-251 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
36
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
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acquisition deal. If a company, which has strong market presence, buys out the weak firm, then a
more competitive and cost efficient company can be generated.37
Advantages-
Mergers and acquisitions is the permanent combination of the business which vest management
in complete control of the business of merged firm. Shareholders in the selling company gain
from the mergers and acquisitions as the premium offered to induce acceptance of the merger or
acquisitions. It offers much more price than the book value of shares. Shareholders in the buying
company gain premium in the long run with the growth of the company.38
Mergers and acquisitions are caused with the support of shareholders, managers and promoters
of the combing companies. The advantages, which motivate the shareholders and managers to
give their support to these combinations and the resulting consequences they have to bear, are
briefly noted below.
From shareholders point of view: - Shareholders are the owners of the company so they
must get be benefited from the mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions can
affect fortune of shareholders. Shareholders expect that investment made by them in the
combining companies should enhance when firms are merging. The sale of shares from
one company’s shareholders to another and holding investment in shares should give rise
to greater values. Following are the advantages that would be generally available in each
merger and acquisition from the point of view of shareholders;
II. Shareholders will get more returns on the investments made by them in the combining
companies.
37
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
38
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-252 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
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IV. Shareholders get better investment opportunities in mergers and acquisitions.39
From managers point of view: - Managers are concerned with improving operations of
the company, managing the affairs of the company effectively for all round gains and
growth of the company which will provide them better deals in raising their status, perks
and fringe benefits. Mergers where all these things are the guaranteed outcome get
support from the managers.40
b) Mergers can convert closely held and private limited company into public limited
company without contributing much wealth and losing control of promoters over the
company.41
From Consumers point of view: - Consumers are the king of the market so they must
get some benefits from mergers and acquisitions. Benefits in favour of the consumer will
depend upon the fact whether or not mergers increase or decrease competitive economic
and productive activity which directly affects the degree of welfare of the consumers
through changes in the price level, quality of the products and after sales service etc.
Following are the benefits that consumers may derive from mergers and acquisitions
transactions;-
a) Low price & better quality goods: - The economic gains realized from mergers and
acquisitions are passed on to consumers in the form of low priced and better quality
goods.
39
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020)
40
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-252 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
41
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
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b) Improve standard of living of the consumers: - Low priced and better quality
products directly improves standard of living of the consumers.42
Disadvantages- Merger or acquisition of two companies in the same field or in diverse field may
involve reduction in the number of competing firms in an industry and tend to dilute competition
in the market. They generally contribute directly to the concentration of economic power and are
likely to lead the merger entities to a dominant position of market power. It may result in lesser
substitutes in the market, which would affect consumer’s welfare. Yet another disadvantage may
surface, if a large undertaking after merger because of resulting dominance becomes complacent
and suffers from deterioration over the years in its performance.43
Following are some disadvantages of mergers and acquisitions:-
Creates monopoly- when two firms merged together they get dominating position in the
market which may lead to create monopoly in the market.
Leads to unemployment-Raiders shouldn’t have the right to buy up firms they have no
idea how to run – the employees who have spent their lives building up the firm should
be making the decisions.
Raiders become filthy rich without producing anything, at the expense of hardworking
people who do produce something.
M&A damages the morale and productivity of firms.
Corporate debt levels have risen to dangerous levels.
Managers pressured to forego long-term investment in favour of short-term profit.
Shareholders may be payed lesser dividend if the firm is not making profits. There may
be a possibility that shareholders would be paid less returns on investment if the company
is not earning enough profit.
Corporate raiders use their control to strip assets from the target, make a quick profit,
destroying the company in the process, throwing people out of work.44
42
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
43
Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi, Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, P-252 (Taxmann, New-Delhi, 3rd
Edn., 2017)
44
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
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Success & Failure of Mergers & Acquisitions:-
1. Strategy- Strategy is the basis for any merger and acquisition. Company should be able to
express in one sentence the motive behind merger and acquisition. If the transferor company is
not able to express the motive for doing a deal for merger then the deal should not be done.
There are many strategic reasons to buy a company some of them are listed as follows;
2. Motive- Buying company i.e. transferor company does not know reasons why another
company is being sold. It should ask reasons for selling the company. Transferor Company
should also try to know what selling company knows about the business that they are not telling
potential buyers. After knowing all reasons for selling a company buying company would be in a
position to decide whether to go for a deal or not. If they are going for deal then buying company
should decide appropriate price for the deal. Buying company should also examine its own
45
Academia Education Available at: https://www.academia.edu/29727435/merger_and_acquisition_of_flipkart (Last
visited on December 17, 2020).
46
Investopedia, Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp (Last visited on
December 17, 2020).
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motive for wanting to acquire the company, whether it is good asset for the company that would
enhance the market of buying company.47
3. Price- A low price does not always equate to a good deal, but higher the price; it is fewer
cushions for unexpected problems. Buying company is often forced to pay more price than they
want to pay for the deal. In a competitive situation the buying company needs to decide how
much it is willing to pay and not exceed that level, even if it means losing the company.
However, in any merger and acquisition there is a pricing range, based on different assumptions
of the future performance of the merger and acquisition. The buying company has to decide the
price to offer for the deal, or how risk will be divided between shareholders of merging
company.48
4. Post-Merger Management- For a merger to succeed much work a remains after the deal has
been signed. The strategy and business model of the old firms may no longer be appropriate
when a new firm is formed. Each firm is unique and presents it’s own set of problems and
solutions. It takes a systematic effort to combine two or more companies after they have come
under a single ownership.
5. Due Diligence- Due diligence means, “A large part of what makes a deal successful after
completing it, is what is being done before completing it”. Before the closing of the deal, the
buyer should engage in a thorough due diligence review of the sellers business. The purpose of
the review is to detect any financial and the business risk that the buyer might inherit from the
seller. The due diligence team can identify ways in which assets, process and other resources can
be combined in order to realize cost saving and other expected synergies. The planning team can
also try to understand the necessary sequencing of events and resulting pace at which the
expected synergies may be realized.49
Factors responsible for failure of mergers and acquisitions
As there are many factors responsible for success of mergers similarly there are many factors
responsible for failure of the merger. The main factor is buying wrong company at wrong time,
at wrong place and by paying wrong price. If the process through which merger is executed is
47
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
48
Edupristine Available at: https://www.edupristine.com/blog/mergers-acquisitions (Last visited on December 17,
2020).
49
Academia Education Available at: https://www.academia.edu/29727435/merger_and_acquisition_of_flipkart (Last
visited on December 17, 2020).
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faulty then it will affect merger adversely. Historical trends show that roughly two thirds of big
mergers will disappoint on their own terms, which means they will lose value on the stock
market.50
Some of reasons for failure of mergers and acquisitions are listed below;
1. Payment of high price- The merger fails when the maximum price is paid to buy another
company. In such situation shareholders of Transferee Company will receive more cash but the
shareholders of Transferor Company will pay more cash. As a result of this deal for merger will
fail.
4. Failure to integrate operations- Once firms are merged management must be prepared to
adapt plans in favour of changed circumstances. Inability to prepare plans leads to failure of
mergers and acquisitions.
5. Inadequate due diligence- The process of the due diligence helps in detecting any financial
and business risks that the buyer might inherit from the seller. Inadequate due diligence results in
the failure of the mergers and acquisitions.52
50
Shopify Available at: https://www.shopify.in/encyclopedia/mergers-and-acquisitions (Last visited on December
17, 2020).
51
Financial Performance Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of the Selected Indian Companies. Available
at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/ (last visited on December 17, 2020).
52
Academia Education Available at: https://www.academia.edu/29727435/merger_and_acquisition_of_flipkart (Last
visited on December 17, 2020).
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Glaxo India Limited and Smith Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (India) Limited have legally
merged to form GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited in India (GSK). It may be recalled
here that the global merger of the two companies came into effect in December 2000.
Commenting on the prospects of GSK in India, Vice Chairman and Managing Director,
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, India, Mr. V Thyagarajan said, “The two companies
that have merged to become GlaxoSmithKline in India have a great heritage – a fact that gets
reflected in their products with strong brand equity.” He added, “The two companies have a long
history of commitment to India and enjoy a very good reputation with doctors, patients,
regulatory authorities and trade bodies. At GSK it would be our endeavor to leverage these
strengths to further consolidate our market leadership.”53
GlaxoSmithKline, India
The merger in India brings together two strong companies to create a formidable presence in the
domestic market with a market share of about 7 per cent. With this merger, GlaxoSmithKline has
increased its reach significantly in India. With a field force of over 2,000 employees and more
than 5,000 stockiest, the company’s products are available across the country. The enhanced
basket of products of GlaxoSmithKline, India will help serve patients better by strengthening the
hands of doctors by offering superior treatment and healthcare solutions.54
GlaxoSmithKline, Worldwide
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Merger of Lenovo and IBM December 2004
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has agreed to sell its personal computer business
to China's largest personal computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd., for US$1.25 billion. The sale
brings to a close a major chapter in IBM's pioneering PC business that it started in 1981.
The agreement calls for Lenovo to pay IBM $650 million in cash, $600 million in Lenovo Group
common stock and for Lenovo to assume $500 million in net balance sheet liabilities from IBM.
Lenovo took over IBM's desktop PC business, including research and development and
manufacturing.
IBM will own an 18% stake in the new established PC Company, and will let it continue to use
the IBM brand as well as other trademarks on PC's and notebook computers. The new company
will become the number three maker of PCs behind Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. The new
company will be based in New York, with principal operations in Beijing and. It is expected that
2,500 IBM employees will join the new company.56
Lenovo Group Ltd. has purchased $1.75 billion PCs from IBM Inc, creating the third-largest
personal computer vendor in the world and giving IBM greater entry into the rapidly growing
Chinese market. Lenovo will gain control of IBM's Think Centre desktop and popular ThinkPad
notebook brands, as well as the thousands of customers who buy those products.
Customer reaction to the deal when it was first announced in December was mixed, but IBM
executives were aggressive in getting out the message that the quality of the products, services
and support would not change.
Lenovo will operate two divisions—Lenovo International, which is essentially the old IBM PC
business, and Lenovo China, the company's Chinese business.
The main purpose of IBM to merge with Lenovo is that to give competition to Dell Inc. (world’s
largest PC manufacturer) in China. Reason for Lenovo to merge with IBM is to enter into US
market. After the merger Dell Inc. announced that it would discontinue selling their lower end
PCs in China because it was nit able to compete on price of local manufacturer.
56
Shopify Available at: https://www.shopify.in/encyclopedia/mergers-and-acquisitions (Last visited on December
17, 2020).
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Conclusion:-
One size doesn't fit all. Many companies find that the best way to get ahead is to expand
ownership boundaries through mergers and acquisitions. At least in theory, mergers provide
economies of scale by expanding operations and cutting costs. Investors can take comfort in the
idea that a merger will deliver enhanced market power.
Now a day, many companies are taking decision to go for merger and acquisitions to expand
their business. But, the procedure for merger is time consuming it almost takes 6 to 7 months.
Therefore, most of the mergers and acquisitions are not completed.
Mergers and acquisition transactions are often affected by government rules and regulations,
most of the countries do not allowed foreign companies to enter into local market alone. Such
foreign companies can enter only when they make merger with any local company.
The current trend shows that there is decline in the number of mergers and acquisitions. It is
because of mergers and acquisitions transactions the needs of expertise persons have increased.
Expertise persons include valuation expert, lawyers, accountants, etc. Merger and acquisition
will give positive result only when it is executed properly.\
Mergers and acquisition result in customers receiving more services which generally include
larger loan limits, more branches and more Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).These results
are further reiterated by the case study of merger of ICICI Bank with the Bank of Rajasthan. The
amalgamation of ICICI bank with Bank of Rajasthan came in to effect on August 13, 2010 when
RBI approved the deal. Post-merger results are satisfactory. Merger has increased the liquidity
and profitability position of ICICI bank. HR ISSUES have always being a major concern for the
merging firms because the major impact of this merger is on the employment position of
employees of BOR. The merger has increased no. of branches and no. of ATM’s.
Hence, the merger is beneficial for both the banks. Hence we conclude that mergers and
acquisitions are beneficial for the Indian banks and shall enable the Indian banking industry to
combat the global competition
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Bibliography:-
Text-Books:-
1. Merger Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring: - By Rabi Naryan Kar & Minakshi
3. Mergers and Acquisitions:- By Kavita Shetty , Rajinder S. Aurora & Sharad R. Kale
Websites-Referred:-
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
2. http://www.legalserviceindia.com/
3. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/
4. https://www.investopedia.com/
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