> Assume good intent. Aggressively assume good intent.

I can't account for anyone else, but my experience says the exact opposite. Most of the acquisitions I've seen, are because the acquiring company wants IP/contracts/some other good that they can't build themselves. Once they have that, the employees are on the short-list.

Obviously every acquisition is different, and should be judged by it's own circumstances, but, having been on both sides of the equation, I'd recommend being skeptical of everything they do. It is hard to do that without becoming toxic, however.