Could Tim Allan's Portland PR be about to become the buyout target of a major media company?

For a short time, Scottish became a buyout target for Yorkshire Television.

Those with solid businesses may become buyout targets, rescuing shareholders and managements from oblivion.

But at least one analyst said that Archstone-Smith had been increasingly seen as a potential buyout target for its high-quality assets and its presence in crucial markets.

Those smaller firms also had been buyout targets for Gallagher.

American Cyanamid rose 1 7/8, to 52 3/4, amid recurring rumors that the company is a buyout target.

The company's recent difficulties thus resemble that of many leveraged buyout targets, which must incur debt or sell assets to pay down debt for their acquirers.

Both have the hallmarks of a tempting buyout target: steady cash flow that can be easily leveraged.

Conversely, Cadbury's confectionary business could become a buyout target, with analysts citing Kraft as a potential buyer.

Analysts take care to avoid outright predictions as to the next possible buyout targets.