Regression Analysis Shows that most corporate acquistions don't turn out well for the buyer. A couple of reasons for that : The seller always knows what he is selling more than the buyer knows in general and won't hesitate to "put lipstick on the pig" . The buyer is in a giddy frame of mind with pressure to do something with surplus cash or big ego to feed . This is not to say that some do turn out well while others are middling.