I this proposed takeover of the oil company, Company A and Company B in the States are getting married soon. Company C in China has stepped in in the last minute saying: wait a minute, before you go to church for the wedding, I have a better offer to marry you (B company). By law B has to consider the better offer for his shareholders, (or for her parents However, A company has an agreement with B saying that if B for any legitimate reason to change her mind eventually B has to pay A a breakup fee, which is the business norm in M & A games. In this case it is US$500 million hard cash. C company in China has to pay this if he seals the deal. In Maytag's case it will be $44 million to pay Ripplewood out of Hair's pocket. From these two cases you can see how green the Chinese firms are. Sometimes hesitation costs you dearly.