--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if the slowdown in merger activity…" description: "\"What if the slowdown in merger activity isn't cyclical, but secular? What if corporations have learned the lessons of so many companies before them tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/andrew-ross-sorkin-12711_activity_what-if-the-slowdown-in-merger-activity_3115174.jpg" --- # What if the slowdown in merger activity isn't cyclical… ![“What if the slowdown in merger activity isn't cyclical, but secular? What if corporations have learned the lessons of so many companies before them that the odds of a successful merger are no better than 50-50 and probably less? Is it possible that the biggest deals have already been done?” quote by Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/andrew-ross-sorkin-12711_activity_what-if-the-slowdown-in-merger-activity_3115174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/andrew-ross-sorkin-12711_activity_what-if-the-slowdown-in-merger-activity_3115174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/andrew-ross-sorkin-12711_activity_what-if-the-slowdown-in-merger-activity_3115174.jpg) > “What if the slowdown in merger activity isn't cyclical, but secular? What if corporations have learned the lessons of so many companies before them that the odds of a successful merger are no better than 50-50 and probably less? Is it possible that the biggest deals have already been done?” [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Merger activity may be declining due to structural market changes, not just cycles, suggesting fewer high‑value deals ahead. **In simple terms:** Deal frequency may be falling. Key Takeaway Reevaluate merger strategies. Themes M&A market cycles strategic risk Mood analytical concerned Type business strategic When to use this quote - corporate growth - investment planning - industry analysis Key Concepts secular trends valuation discipline Questions to Reflect On - What indicators show a secular shift? - How to adapt to fewer big deals? A Different Perspective Assuming cycles repeat can mislead forecasts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest/) [Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companies/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Cyclical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyclical/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Merger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merger/) [Merger Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merger-activity-5451101/) [Merger Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merger-better-5451102/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Secular Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-corporations-5451103/) [Slowdown Merger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowdown-merger-5451100/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [What if](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-if/) ## Related quotes > [“Radio One Inc Case Analysis, Taking after a merger, Clear Channel is realizing a divesture of different its radio stations. Radio One, a radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/radio-one-inc-case-analysis-taking-after-a-merger-clear-channel-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first day after the merger, Brad got a call from a worried female employee, who whispered, “There is a guy in here with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-first-day-after-the-merger-brad-got-a-call-from-a-worried-female/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Like other antitrust agencies we make our assessment of a merger or antitrust case based on its impact on our jurisdiction, and not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/like-other-antitrust-agencies-we-make-our-assessment-of-a-merger-or/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [“Merger of plans and actions determine the amalgamation of goals and acquisition of success in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/merger-of-plans-and-actions-determine-the-amalgamation-of-goals-and/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [There will be no job cuts arising out of this merger in Europe - this is in the interest of jobs in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/there-will-be-no-job-cuts-arising-out-of-this-merger-in-europe-this/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [A merger is hard to pull off under any circumstances. It's harder when everybody is against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/a-merger-is-hard-to-pull-off-under-any-circumstances-it-s-harder-when/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [Every single time you make a merger, somebody is losing his identity. And saying something different is just rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/every-single-time-you-make-a-merger-somebody-is-losing-his-identity/) [Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/) > [Later in that administration, I was asked to take a job which I had to turn down as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-cutler/later-in-that-administration-i-was-asked-to-take-a-job-which-i-had-to/) [Lloyd Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-cutler/) > [This really is a merger of equals. I wouldn't have come back to work for anything less than this fantastic opportunity. This lets me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-really-is-a-merger-of-equals-i-wouldn-t-have-come-back-to-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have no intention of shutting down plants. We have always said there will be no redundancies or lay-offs as a result of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/we-have-no-intention-of-shutting-down-plants-we-have-always-said/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [At Time Warner, I had ten percent of the stock after the merger. But when we merged with AOL, I was diluted down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/at-time-warner-i-had-ten-percent-of-the-stock-after-the-merger-but/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [He orchestrated the merger between UNICEF and Smith and Wesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-brasky/he-orchestrated-the-merger-between-unicef-and-smith-and-wesson/) [Bill Brasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-brasky/) > [“When only one party makes a profit that's robbery when all parties make profit that's business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/when-only-one-party-makes-a-profit-that-s-robbery-when-all-parties/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [In any merger, when you have large organisations coming together, there will be challenges in terms of culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-piramal/in-any-merger-when-you-have-large-organisations-coming-together-there/) [Ajay Piramal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-piramal/) ## More by Andrew Ross Sorkin > [As a child, I always enjoyed - my parents used to have these little cocktail parties - and I always loved trying to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/as-a-child-i-always-enjoyed-my-parents-used-to-have-these-little/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [“Everyone thinks Goldman is so fucking smart,” he railed. “Just because Goldman says this is the right valuation, you shouldn’t assume it’s correct just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/everyone-thinks-goldman-is-so-fucking-smart-he-railed-just-because/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [The failure of Lehman may have allowed the government to do more to prop up the economy than it otherwise could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/the-failure-of-lehman-may-have-allowed-the-government-to-do-more-to/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [When you can't lend or trade - and you can't invest with the leverage that juiced returns to support seven- and eight-figure bonuses -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/when-you-can-t-lend-or-trade-and-you-can-t-invest-with-the-leverage/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [Debt, we've learned, is the match that lights the fire of every crisis. 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Others like newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/some-billionaires-like-cars-yachts-and-private-jets-others-like/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [No one suggested Lehman deserved to be saved. But the argument has been made that the crisis might have been less severe if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/no-one-suggested-lehman-deserved-to-be-saved-but-the-argument-has/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [“This generation of Wall Street CEOs could be the ones to forfeit America’s trust. When the history of the Great Recession is written, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/this-generation-of-wall-street-ceos-could-be-the-ones-to-forfeit/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [“There are no atheists in foxholes or ideologues in a financial crisis. 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I'm a very nervous - by my nature - anxious, almost paranoid person and reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/i-don-t-sleep-well-i-m-a-very-nervous-by-my-nature-anxious-almost/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [I was always one of those people who would watch the Super Bowl as much for the sports as I did for the ads.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/i-was-always-one-of-those-people-who-would-watch-the-super-bowl-as/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [“While the financial crisis destroyed careers and reputations, and left many more bruised and battered, it also left the survivors with a genuine sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/while-the-financial-crisis-destroyed-careers-and-reputations-and-left/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) [Explore all 53 Andrew Ross Sorkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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