In the law of corporations, a merger is effected when one or more corporations becomes a part of, or merges, with another corporation so that one ceases to exist and the other continues to exist. In a merger, the company that continues to exist retains its name and identity and acquires the assets, liabilities, franchises, and powers of the corporation that ceases to exist. Attorneys who practice in mergers and acquisitions (sometimes called M & A) represent corporations and other business entities in strategizing, negotiating, and carrying out transactions in which two or more companies or corporations combine into a single new entity, a merger, or where one business purchases and absorbs the assets of another, an acquisition.
Healdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, USA. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city had a total population of 10,722. Healdsburg is a commercial center for northern Sonoma County as well as being one of Northern California's wine capitals: three of the most important wine-producing regions meet in Healdsburg. Though the town was not founded during Mexican rule, Healdsburg is centered on a 19th century plaza that provides an important focal point for tourists and locals alike.