acquire, consolidation和merger都可以表示收购，在企业并购日趋频繁的今天，这三个单词在法律文书中尤其是合同中可以说是频频出现，在企业并购日趋频繁的今天，这三个单词在法律文书中尤其是合同中可以说是频频出现，如我们常见到的M&A（并购），即是acquire的名词acquisition和merger的缩写。

区别：

但三个词的侧重点各有不同：

acquire强调购买，即以购买等继受方式取得财产的所有权和控制权，其同义词是take over （名词为takeover）。

consolidation和merger都是合并的意思：

consolidation的意思是两个或两个以上的公司合并，重新设立一个新的公司，合并各方解散，新设公司承担解散各方的债务，并接管各方的财产，相当于我国《公司法》上的“新设合并”，

merger是指一个公司吸收其他公司，导致其他公司丧失法人资格，吸收方承担被吸收方债务，并取得被吸收方的资产和各种权力，相当于我国《公司法》上的“吸收合并”。 

例 Beneficial ownership of or entitlement to acquire shares or assets of the other.

参考译文：拥有另一实体股份或资产的受益所有权或收购另一实体股份或资产的权力

例The Company may give financial assistance on such terms as the Board thinks fit to directors and bona fide employees of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any holding company of the Company or any subsidiary of any such holding company in order that they may purchase or subscribe or otherwise acquire shares (fully or partly paid) in the Company or any holding company of the Company and such terms may include a reference that, when a director ceases to be a director of, or an employee ceases to be employed by, the Company or such other company, shares purchased or subscribed or otherwise acquired with such financial assistance shall or may be sold to the Company or such other company on such terms as the Board thinks fit.

参考译文：本公司可按董事会认为合适之有关条款向本公司、其任何附属公司、本公司任何控股公司或任何有关控股公司之任何附属公司之董事及真诚雇员提供财务援助，以令彼等可买入或认购或以其他方式收购本公司或本公司任何控股公司股份（全部或部份缴足），而有关条款可包括一项提述，倘董事不再担任董事，或雇员不再受雇于本公司或有关其他公司，则以有关财务援助买入或认购或以其他方式收购之股份须或可按董事会认为合适之有关条款售予本公司或有关其他公司。

例 Neither Party may assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, without the other Party’s prior written consent, except to (i) any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization involving the assigning Party, and (ii) any entity to which the assigning Party may

transfer all or substantially all of its assets; provided that the assignee agrees in writing to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and provides documentation as evidence that the assignee has the ability and capability of meeting all of the obligations under this Agreement.

参考译文：任何一方未经另一方事先书面同意，不得转让本协议的全部或部分，除非转让给（i）涉及转让方的因兼并、合并或其它重组而产生的任何公司；（ii）转让方可以向其转让全部或绝大部分资产的实体；但受让方须书面同意受本协议所有条款和条件的约束，并提供文件证明受让方有资格、有能力履行本协议项下的全部义务。

例The Existing Shareholders shall cause the existing shareholders' meeting and/or the meeting of the board of directors (or the executive director(s)) of the Company to disapprove the merger or integration of the Company with any person, or the acquisition by the Company of or the investment by the Company in any person without the prior written consent of the Cayman Company.

参考译文：未经开曼公司事先书面同意，现有股东应促使公司现有股东会和/或董事会（或执行董事）会议对公司与任何人的合并或整合，或对任何人进行收购或投资不予批准；