Congrats? Or Condolences?
It’s hard to know whether congratulations or condolences are in order these days when you hear the news that someone’s company has just been bought out (acquired).
The happier circumstance is that everyone’s “ticket” just got punched: their stock options vested, their golden (silver?) parachutes deployed, etc.
The other possibility?
The new owner is laying (almost) everyone off.
Personally, I’m aware of one instance of each recently.
P.S.: I suppose there’s another perspective: that of the acquirer.