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.
Hinsdale is an affluent Chicago suburb located partly in Cook County and mainly DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown that contains boutique shops and restaurants, and is a 20-minute train ride to downtown Chicago on the BNSF Railway Line. Hinsdale is also known for its excellent public school system, ranked among the best on all levels in the state of Illinois. In 2005, all its elementary schools were ranked in the top 25 in the state.