Or will the need to maximise shareholder return always trump (excuse the pun) all other considerations?

C&T said on Thursday it was committed to moving ahead with the merger to " maximise shareholder value".

A strategic review of CRH's European distribution business is ongoing, it said, reiterating that it would consider all options to maximise shareholder value.

Stephens believes the companies have spent too much time trying to maximise shareholder value by finding and proving more reserves while outsourcing key operations.

It's okay to be have ethics while maximising shareholder value.

For them, maximising shareholder return is the primary concern.

This is attributed to its "strategy of maximising shareholder value through exploration and development", said the chairman, Mr Tom Toner.

Japanese companies traditionally have not focused on maximising shareholder value, instead prioritising stability and long-term business relationships cemented by interlocking webs of cross-shareholdings.