In the case of the 3Com-Bain-Huawei merger it is spelled "sell Tipping Point". As has been widely reported since this deal was announced, the fact that a Chinese company would own a substantial stake in an IPS/security vendor has caused significant heartburn within the Federal Government. This same issue kept Sourcefire from being acquired by Checkpoint (I bet that 200+ million looks good right about now).  Todays article in the Washington Times indicates that Bain has officially notified the Treasury Department of its mitigation proposals including the selling off of Tipping Point.

In my mind the question is: Will that be enough?  Is it only the Tipping Point stuff that causes the issue?  Does 3Com have other sensitive technology.  I don't know, but I am sure the recent arrest of 4 Chinese people on espionage type of charges did not help the Bain position. Also, do you spin Tipping Point off as a public entity. If not do you find an acceptable buyer.  Does the fact that the buyer would have to be a US based company decrease the potential buyer pool, making Tipping Point less valuable?  All of these are great questions that are going to need answers before this deal is finalized.  In the meantime is being in M&A limbo taking its toll on 3Com.  Questions, questions, questions, but I don't have the answers.