For many users, the Merge Shape commands may be assumed as a new feature in PowerPoint 2013. However these were available in PowerPoint 2010 through the Combine Shapes commands. Yes, these were not available by default from any of the Ribbon tabs in PowerPoint 2010, but you could customize the QAT to get these commands. In PowerPoint 2013, Microsoft gave the new Merge Shapes name to these commands and also gave them a place right within the Ribbon. And now, these commands are no longer limited to shapes as they also work with text and pictures.
Explore the new Merge Shape commands in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows.

