[ddebernardy]

It's part of the M&A playbook. One way to test whether a company is for sale or willing to buy you is to "leak" that you're currently in talks with your target acquisition or acquirer.

You get a response sooner or later, either in the form of a firm denial by the other party through the press, or in the form of someone picking up their phone (either from the target itself or from a potentially interested alternative).