An NYT/ Breakingviews story on older tech companies and their acquisitions argues that it is a hazardous approach. Excerpt:
Acquisitions, combined with cost-cutting, tend to be a popular way of trying to rejuvenate. It’s often a losing proposition, though. Control premiums and purchase accounting typically muddle matters. Tech takeovers also have a habit of failing. H.P. alone has written down about $18 billion worth of M.&A .since 2011....Slowing the aging process may prove irresistible to technology behemoths, but it would come at a hefty cost.
Also this week, an interesting instance of crossed communication: Apple saying that it acquired Broadmap, but then Broadmap denying that it has been sold - WSJ story here. It appears eventually that Apple may have bought the technology but that the company continues to exist, perhaps licensing the technology back from Apple - AllThingsD update here.
In the current M&A environment, dealmakers are no longer getting the largest bonuses on Wall Street, according to this NYT DealBook story.