A giant cow-tipping by savages : the boom, bust, and boom culture of M & A

Modern mergers and acquisitions, or M&A as it's more commonly known, is a new phenomenon. The buying and selling, the breaking up and combining of companies—the essence of M&A—has been a part of commerce throughout history, but only in our era has M&A itself become a business. In 2007, before the recession hit, it was a $4.4 trillion global enterprise. And yet, it remains largely unexplored. Discrete stories have been pulled from the annals of M&A, both true and fictionalized, that have become touchstones for wealth and excess. Who can forget Gordon Gekko and his "Greed is Good" speech? But while there have been a few iconic characters and tales to emerge, no one has told the rich history of M&A, until now. This is a look into that world and the people who created it. This reads like Dallas meets Wall Street, told through an intriguing narrative that not only brings to light in gritty detail all of the back room drama of such powerful players as Carl Icahn and Ronald Perelman, Marty Lipton and Joe Flom, Jimmy Goldsmith and Sumner Redstone, but also reveals how the new generation, including activist whirlwind Bill Ackman and iconoclastic new Delaware judge Leo Strine, will dominate the next tsunamic, and imminent, M&A boom. Explores The Phenomenon Of Mergers And Acquisitions, Or M&a As It's More Commonly Known: The Buying And Selling, The Breaking Up And Combining Of Companies--the Essence Of M&a--has Been A Part Of Commerce Throughout History, But Only In Our Era Has M&a Itself Become A Business. Temple Of Dendur -- Wasps, Jews, And M & A -- Hellfire Club -- Land Of The Screamers -- Size Of Their Toys -- Visit Of The British Company Man -- Rubber Phobia -- Guns Of Aqaba -- Erectile Dysfunction -- Bondian Death Ray -- Up, Up, And Away! -- Beggar's Purse -- Foul Dust -- Fat Man And Little Boy -- Big Bloody Outcry -- Orion And The Wolves -- Heart Of Hollywood -- Icarus Falling -- Birds Of America -- Return To The Temple -- Notes -- Index. John Weir Close. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Mergers and acquisitions is a trillian dollar industry with a reputation for excess. Despite this notoriety, the culture of M&A remains largely unexplored, until now. From coke-filled offices to nightclubs and summer palaces, A Giant Cow-Tipping by Savages exposes the world of M&A and those who created it. Explores the phenomenon of mergers and acquisitions, or M & A as it's more commonly known: the buying and selling, the breaking up and combining of companies--the essence of M & A--has been a part of commerce throughout history, but only in our era has M & A itself become a business