M&A — Mergers and Acquisitions
Definition: The process of one company buying or combining with another. Mergers are roughly-equal combinations; acquisitions are one buying the other.
Example
Microsoft's $69B acquisition of Activision Blizzard is M&A. So is a $5M roll-up of three regional plumbing companies.
When you'll hear it
M&A shows up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. When someone uses it, they're usually referring to mergers and acquisitions — and they expect the room to already know what that means.
FAQs
What does M&A stand for?
M&A stands for Mergers and Acquisitions.
What does M&A mean in business and finance?
The process of one company buying or combining with another. Mergers are roughly-equal combinations; acquisitions are one buying the other.
Where will I hear M&A used at work?
M&A comes up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. It's used as shorthand for mergers and acquisitions, so people assume you already know the term.