The only bigger buyout was the $6.2 billion takeover of the Beatrice Companies.

Q. Is what we're seeing now in leveraged buyouts bigger than the 1980s?

The deal, worth more than $3 billion, would be Europe's biggest leveraged buyout.

The big buyouts also come as equity is under increased scrutiny by shareholders and regulators.

Simon was a pioneer of the big leveraged buyout in the 1980s.

His biggest buyout so far has been $11 million.

"We won't see anything close to the deals of the big buyout firms," one Wall Street executive said.

The directors summon the chief executive officer into the corporate suite and give him the world's biggest buyout.

"Could be the biggest leveraged buyout ever," the aide said.

The biggest leveraged buyout ever is about to be surpassed.