Will they attempt to revive the merger at some future date?

BBC: How Germany killed the merger of BAE and EADS

In his ruling, Judge Stephen Lamb said if the deal did not close by Oct. 1, the termination date for the merger would be extended until the court determined that Apollo and Hexion had complied with the order.

FORBES: Market Scan

Glencore said Tuesday that the so-called long stop date by which the merger, which still needs Chinese regulatory approval, has to be completed has been extended to April 16 from March 15.

NPR: Glencore Sees Sharp Fall In 2012 Earnings

The improvements would be implemented, retroactive to the date of ratification, if a merger occurs.

FORBES: How US Airways Pilot Leaders Found Their Way to Unanimously Back Merger Deal

Knight Ridder is the product of the 1974 merger between Knight Newspapers and Ridder Publications --family companies that date back to 1903 and 1892, respectively.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Once definitive merger agreements are signed by the two companies, Dow Jones will set the date for a shareholder vote to approve the deal.

WSJ: Murdoch Wins His Bid for Dow Jones

Analysts told the newspaper that Mr Mittal may wait and buy iron ore assets from Rio at a later date should regulators demand the miner sells part of its business to allow a merger with BHP to go ahead.

BBC: Rio shares up on bid speculation

We believe that moving quickly to negotiate and conclude our proposed merger is in the best interests of Take-Two and EA. Waiting for a later date leaves open significant uncertainty regarding the timing, the probability and the value of a potential transaction, and is not in the best interests of either company or Take-Two's stockholders.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Mr Reed has hinted he will step down once the merger process is complete though, strikingly, he has not been so rash as to set a date.

ECONOMIST: Citigroup