Final answer:
An acquirer is the company or individual that seeks to take over another company. Acquisitions and mergers involve firms combining and operating under common ownership, with antitrust laws regulating these actions to ensure market competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The company or individual that wishes to acquire or take over another company is called an acquirer. An acquisition happens when one firm purchases another, which may result in the acquired firm continuing to operate under its original name. This is in contrast to a corporate merger, where two previously separate firms combine to become a single entity. Both mergers and acquisitions lead to formerly independent firms coming under common ownership. Antitrust laws play a role in monitoring these activities to prevent the undue restriction of competition within markets.