In the last few years, for example, OfficeMax, Dial, Airborne Express and Pennzoil-Quaker State were acquired at an average 120% premium to Marker's cost.
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, of the Claremont graduate school, speculates that his real reason for running was to put down a marker for 2001, when term-limits make him leave the state's Senate and Mr Riordan will no longer be eligible for the mayor's job.