They have been only friendly transactions to buy companies - deals in which management of the acquired company has cooperated.

Dart said last week that it hoped to acquire Stop and Shop in a friendly transaction.

At the time of the offer, Mr. Davis said he was seeking a "friendly transaction."

Though the family then said it was shifting its focus to West Coast real estate, environmental services and friendly transactions, things went from bad to worse.

Obviously, this "industrial" approach works only in a friendly transaction.

The merger was eventually agreed upon in a friendly transaction after it had created an uproar among Germany's steelworkers.

It added that it "has consistently indicated its desire to consummate a friendly transaction."

"I think Amway believes that they want it to be a friendly transaction," she said.

Mentor earlier this year proposed a friendly transaction, but that deal was rejected.

"I was very pleased to meet them, and found them very happy that this had turned into a friendly transaction," he said.