I work in an unscrupulous industry and whenever a buyout has occurred it's usually the ones that suck ass / eat shit / and lick balls that seem to survive. I'm not in any way interested in doing that, so I'm usually one of the first out the door. Human nature is funny to sit back and watch. People sell themselves worse than cattle being sold for slaughter. I've seen first hand what power can do to people. The greed that most companies have breeds contempt among the employees.

If you look at your co-workers as friends you're going about it all wrong. The first possible chance someone has to throw you under the bus it will happen! Most of the time behind closed doors. If you currently go out to lunch with your co-workers you need to start bringing your lunch to work. Even if you sit in your car or go to a park by yourself. You can trust yourself, but others not so much!

The sole and main purpose of business is to MAKE A PROFIT. This is even more true if it is a publically owned (stock exchange) business. If you combine that theory with the fact that it's a kill or be killed world out there, you've got to be able to pick out the easy meat. When a company purchases another company - there's lots of fresh meat!

Definitely familiarize yourself w/the new company and ask some questions or mention business matters pertinent to them. It's amazing how when we were acquired (twice) at one of my old jobs, my coworkers had no interest in learning about the new company and didn't have a clue what they did. Did not go over well w/the new bosses. I was no expert on the company but read up on them and asked them about their new international offices and a satellite office nearby that I might be interested in transferring to. I also told them I was willing to move to other departments/organizations when they reorganized. I wound up keeping my job though many did not.

Since this has happened to me twice, I would ask which parts of my company they really wanted and which parts they were going to ax or allow to whither away. I wouldn't expect much of an answer but I think I'd ask anyway.

I've worked for two federal contractors that were acquired and have been on the wrong side twice. And now me and most of my group is looking for a job at a bad time for contractors.

Hmmm, I'm guessing he/she has requested to meet with all employees of acquired company. Is that the reason for this conversation? If so, I'm guessing he/she wants to know more about your position, why you're there, what you like about the company. I'd be prepared with answers for all of those. I'm not sure you'll need to have a lot of questions for him/her, but it might be good to have one or two in your back pocket. I might ask how he/she plans to integrate the two companies, what he/she sees on the horizon for the company, etc. I'd keep it pretty general.

If your company was being acquired and you had the chance to talk to the head of the new company, what questions would you have? It's been said from the start no one will be laid off, for whatever that's worth.