SOME 1,500 TO 2,000 mergers and a acquistions are per year worldwide, of which around half are completed in the US. With deals worth astronomical sums, ($25bn for HPe Compaq $35bn for Daimler-Chrysler, and $77bn for Exxon-Mobil) it comes as no surprise that American for executives are queuing up to go back t school for M&A ses. And although it's true that improving earnings and asset growth are not the only goals in takeovers the fact that many mergers result in a net loss of value to suggests that schooling is sorely needed!