by Agnes a Paris
Mon Mar 13th, 2006 at 06:26:06 AM EST
Today, the Financial Times heralds the latest wave of mergers/friendly or unsollicited bids --well call it the way you like-- spreading from one side of the Atlantic to the other.
Takeover talk boosts bourses
Three interesting points to be made :
- Despite the bemoaned protectionism of the narrow minded national governments (the subject of an intensive coverage by the very same newspaper), the M&A business has bright days ahead.
- This is sure to be a year of skyrocketing profits for investment banks. I happen to work for one of the companies which is currently in the merger scope and no less than three investment banks advise each of the parties.
- The hottest topic is the Nasdaq/LSE intercourse.
Interestingly enough, the stock market of the country hosting the FT head offices is a very picky bride. Having turned down Macquarie who proposed to her, she is now blushing in front of the NY stock exchange 64% higher bid, but still not giving herself away.
Protectionism using the financial argument is indeed the most efficient one as it does not suffer any contention.
Measuring the relevancy of a decision by the money it will bring to its instigators is the one best way. What do you think ?
From the diaries ~ whataboutbob
business
