The main purpose of M&A activity is to increase the value or accelerate the growth of a business. Both acquisitions and mergers allow a company to grow at a rate that would not be possible through organic growth. Other benefits of M&A include: Access to new technologies. Firms engage in mergers because they see a profitable opportunity. If profits rise due to lower costs — through higher productivity or economies of scale, for example — the result can be lower prices for consumers and improved overall economic welfare.