Inthecase of takeoversbyforeigncompanies, importantfunctionscandisappear, as happened whennestle of SwitzerlandacquiredRowntree, anotherUKconfectionerymaker, in 1988.
These include some of the world's leading companies, such as BMW, Lloyds, Nestle, Philips and Shell, as well as US government departments and the UK's Parliament.
In a statement, Nestle said its decision not to make, or participate in, a formal offer for Cadbury followed discussions with the UK Takeover Panel - the body in charge of regulating takeovers.