MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ARE AMONG THE MOST effective ways to expedite the growth of a business. Countless companies in all industries have grown at lightning speed in part due to aggressive merger and acquisition strategies.

The impact of technology and the Internet has increased the pace and size of merger and acquisition deals, particularly as sales and distribution channels are being restructured on an almost daily basis. It has also been technology companies, in search of new ideas, new products, trained knowledge workers, strategic relationships and additional market share, who have been the most acquisitive. Microsoft topped the list with 45 deals worldwide in 1999 ...