More than 1, 000 companies have been bought this year 12 times as many as have gone public, according to Broadview International, a bank specialising in mergers and acquisitions.

ECONOMIST: Internet IPOs

In an increasingly globalized market, mergers and acquisitions with an international component are routine, and most foreign purchases of American business assets will raise no national security issues.

FORBES: If You Want to Buy an American Company, Ask Permission, Not Forgiveness

Price Waterhouse aims to add hundreds of experts to its Japanese branch to handle a growing consulting practice in computer systems integration, mergers and acquisitions, project finance and international taxation.

FORBES: Where do you buy your rice cakes?

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) is responsible for analyzing the national security implications, if any, of prospective mergers and acquisitions which involve the purchase of American companies by international investors.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy