Week $13$ Topic: Mergers

and Acquisitions $-$ A sign of

corporate confidence or

hubris?

Ends Nov $20$

NY Times article about $M$&$A$

actvitiy this year

The current year has seen a lot of

$M$&A activity $-$ in fact, it is the

biggest year for $M$&A since $2000.$

Two mega $($potential$)$ deals were

announced just today $-$ Activis

PLC$\text{'}$s $$66$ billion bid for Allergan

$($maker of Botox$),$ and Halliburton's

$$34\mathrm{.}6$ billion bid for oil$-$services

firm Baker Hughes.

Does all this activity signify that the

economy is likely to strengthen in

the near to medium term or are

companies taking on too much risk

and setting the economy up for

another fall?

Please post your comments.