Why can't I offer to buy other's firms?

[hakkarin]

Players can offer to sell their firms, but why can't they also make offers to buy other's without hoping they will go on sale? That sounds like a useful feature to have.

[WilliamMGary]

Players can offer to sell their firms, but why can't they also make offers to buy other's without hoping they will go on sale? That sounds like a useful feature to have.

Making a successful offer for a firm that has not been put up by the AI for sake, is about as likely as getting the AI to sell you their shares once they hit 100%

[counting]

If this mechanism is implemented, it might open some very nasty strategies to cut off competitor's supply chain by buying off some crucial links.

I think this mechanism would only works with a certain type of advanced AI personality and opinion systems that has "mood/trust" to determine whether it likes human players or not, and how likely it's willing to sell/buy (It could also be the foundation of contract mechanism)