Heard a story about how big companies buy small ones

Someone told me this a while back and it stuck with me.

There was a company doing well. Not huge, but solid, good reputation in its area. A big international player came in and said they wanted to buy it.
Everyone there was happy. That's the call you wait for.
The big one asked for documents. Numbers, contracts, all of it. Then the client list. Someone said that's normal, they have to see what they're paying for.
They handed over the client list.

Then the talks slowed down. Then they stopped. No deal, no explanation.
A few months later the best clients started leaving. One by one. All going to the same place.
They never wanted to buy the company. They wanted to know who to call.
Lawyers looked at it. Nothing came of it. Everything had been handed over voluntarily.

The company still exists. It's a shell now.
If someone big says they want to buy you, think hard about what you give them and when.