are one of the best ways for helping a company strongly differentiate its product offering.

seldom are a superior strategic alternative to forming alliances or partnerships with these same companies because of the financial drain of using the cash resources of the affected companies to accomplish the merger or acquisition.

are a particularly effective way of pursuing a blue ocean strategy and outsourcing strategies.

are an attractive means of building stronger brand name awareness. are often undertaken to create a more cost$-$efficient operation out of the combined companies, thereby transforming two $($or more$)$ otherwise high$-$cost companies into one lean competitor with average or below$-$average costs.