Final answer:
A corporate merger, often leading to an acquisition, occurs when one corporation makes a tender offer to another corporation's shareholders, which is known as a stock acquisition.
Step-by-step explanation:
An attempt at a corporate merger occurs when one corporation makes a tender offer to the shareholders of another corporation. This is a form of acquisition where one firm purchases another, potentially allowing the acquired firm to continue operating under its original name. Both mergers and acquisitions lead to the outcome of two formerly separate firms operating under common ownership. When specifically referring to a situation where a tender offer is made directly to the shareholders, it is known as a stock acquisition. In general, these business strategies are overseen by antitrust laws, which are designed to maintain competition by regulating mergers and acquisitions.