I don't technically disagree with you, but I do think this is just a bit hyperbolic. If you just spent $2B on a company, you probably did it to make money at t

I don't technically disagree with you, but I do think this is just a bit hyperbolic. If you just spent $2B on a company, you probably did it to make money at the end of the day. After all, business is rarely charitable. The company you just acquired likely has a declining and unhealthy cash flow and little to no cash reserves. You're unlikely to go and then infuse it with more of your capital. As a result, you're going to turn to outside capital to finance whatever plans you have. These plans are used as justification to creditors with which to take out these loans at whatever interest rate they deem appropriate. Additionally, you're likely going to reward yourself for any profits or turn around that does happen at the company. After all, you do have $2B tied up in this company. I agree, these companies are now more than likely walking corpses. As an employee, I probably wouldn't want to be stuck there as there is likely going to be little spent on employee retention and growth. However, it also does provide extended life to these brands that with a declining cash flow and no outside leadership change would likely meet the same fate and likely much quicker at that. As with everything, there is a spectrum. There are likely examples that did exactly what you just said. And there are also probably examples where the business turned around and went public again some day. The vast majority are going to sit in the middle, with no sinister plan and slowly fade away as the last customers stop giving them money. I think it's unfair to paint the companies being acquired as perfect companies. They have likely already lost customer confidence and as I mentioned in my first post can't find a path to growth. After all, that is why they are in this position to begin with. The morality of this process can certainly be debated, but I think it's fair to say that most people don't invest a lot of money into a business just to run it into the ground as quickly as possible. It does exist, no doubt, but running a firesale is far from the most profitable way earn money on your investment.