The reason companies undertake a friendly merger is to achieve...

The reason companies undertake a friendly merger is to achieve better economies of scale with respect to admin and management costs, rationalise head office costs (generally close one), optimise staffing resources etc etc
There are real benefits to be realised.
Therefore, the combined market cap of both entities pre-merger generally should be increased post-merger because of these benefits (all other things being equal).
The loss of value in the share price is not due to the merger. Look at what's happening across the lithium industry re share prices.
Some investors have taken a view and are voting with their $$'s. Others (like me) are saying thank you very much - we'll take those shares off your hands. There is a lot to like about market action like this. As others have quoted before, this is the transfer of wealth from the impatient to the patient. I'm happy to sit back and pick up stock at a price I like as I can afford to buy.
I ave a bit of petrol left in the tank as I offloaded other stocks for such an opportunity. This is just an opportunity too good to miss - 10%+ reduction in 2 trading days based on what???
GLTA