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A merger is an agreement that unites two existing companies into one new company. There are several types of mergers and also several reasons why companies complete mergers. Mergers and acquisitions are commonly done to expand a company's reach, expand into new segments, or gain market share.

During a merger, essentially other corporate entities become a part of an existing entity. This can be useful for smaller companies merging into larger companies that have greater brand recognition and market traction. Conversely, a consolidation is when multiple companies join to form a new entity.

When you merge your business with another business or businesses, you consolidate two or more companies into one. You can compare a merger to a marriage. The companies involved in the merger join their assets, staff and other resources together, forming a new legal entity.

The terms "mergers" and "acquisitions" are often used interchangeably, although, in fact, they hold slightly different meanings. When one company takes over another and establishes itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition.

In 2007, the Walt Disney Company acquired Pixar Entertainment for a price of $7.4 billion. This is a merger that makes sense at every level. Disney has been the biggest name in family entertainment for decades, creating classics such as Cinderella, Mary Poppins, and The Lion King.

Types of Mergers. The three main types of mergers are horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. In a horizontal merger, companies at the same stage in the same industry merge to reduce costs, expand product offerings, or reduce competition.

A merger occurs when two separate entities combine forces to create a new, joint organization. Meanwhile, an acquisition refers to the takeover of one entity by another. Mergers and acquisitions may be completed to expand a company's reach or gain market share in an attempt to create shareholder value.

Companies merge to expand their market share, diversify products, reduce risk and competition, and increase profits. Common types of company mergers include conglomerates, horizontal mergers, vertical mergers, market extensions and product extensions.