Acquisition
One company obtaining control of another by buying its shares or assets, with the target continuing to exist.
How it is identified
Test: the acquirer obtains control, defined in India as 25% of voting rights or the right to appoint a majority of directors
Unit
qualitative
In depth
An acquisition differs from a merger in that the target survives as a separate legal entity, usually as a subsidiary, so its accounts consolidate into the acquirer's rather than disappearing. Crossing the 25% threshold in a listed company triggers a mandatory open offer to public shareholders under the takeover code, which is the protection that stops control changing hands without minority holders having an exit. The premium paid over market is the control premium, and paying too much for synergies that do not materialise is the most common route to goodwill impairment. For the target's shareholders, an acquisition typically means a price rise; for the acquirer's, it often means the opposite.
Worked example
An acquirer paying ₹800 crore for a business with identifiable net assets of ₹500 crore records ₹300 crore of goodwill. If the acquisition disappoints, that ₹300 crore is written off years later as an impairment.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Acquisition” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.