The value of reported mergers and acquisitions...

The value of reported mergers and acquisitions involving Japanese companies almost doubled in 1988 from a year earlier, a leading securities house survey said. Reported takeovers amounted to $16.6 billion (2.12 trillion yen) last year, up from $8.45 billion (1.08 trillion yen) in 1987, said Yamaichi Securities Co. Ltd. The value of 261 of the 555 transactions last year were made public. In 1987, 469 mergers and acquisitions took place and the value of 196 were made public. Japanese firms bought or merged with foreign entities in 351 of the 1988 deals, or 56.8% of the total. Foreign firms were involved in 223 cases, or 40.2% of the deals, in 1987.