[PW] stats on mergers & acquisitions PRE-merge

[Michael J. Lowrey]

On Dec 4, 2007 12:45 PM, Jenn Lewis <jennjennagain at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a patron who's looking for statistics on how many potential business mergers and
> acquisitions fail (or succeed - either stat will work). I've found lots
> of information online about the success/failure rates of m&a transactions
> post-merger or post-acquisition, but that's not what he wants. He wants to know is what percentage of businesses approached to
> engage in a merger or acquisition accept the approach, and engage in
> negotiations? And of those companies engaged in m&a negotiations,
> what percentage of them actually close the deal? Can anybody please help? Thanks!

There are no reliable figures on that sort of thing. It's like a
multi-billion-dollar courtship ritual, with passing glances,
flirtations, cute meets,  triangles (or worse), assignations at
secluded rendezvous, infidelities, and LOTS and LOTS of lies, before
anything is official (if anything ever happens). Nobody likes to admit
they were turned down (or, in some cases, that they were even
"looking"); and it is often in the best interests of all parties to
mislead everyone else about how serious or frivolous the relationships
are. Professional industrial espionage is in part made up of looking
out for just this sort of thing.

-- 
Michael J. "Orange Mike" Lowrey

"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food
and clothes."
     --  Desiderius Erasmus