A takeover, or merger and acquisition (M&A), occurs when one firm takes control of another firm, typically through the purchase of a majority of the target firm’s shares. Takeovers can be friendly, in which the target firm’s management and board of directors approve of the transaction, or hostile, in which the target firm’s management and board of directors oppose the transaction.
There are a number of reasons why a firm might want to acquire another firm. Some of the most common reasons include: