"Dear Jill:

You know I have not asked many favors of you, and our business relationship goes way back. I hope you can help me out with this. I need some tips on what your firm is going to want to know at our joint meeting tomorrow just so we can get our ducks in a row. I realize this is only a preliminary meeting on our possible merger, but I think it would aid the process if we shared some financial and other information beforehand. Whatever you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million.

Your colleague-to-be,

Kenneth Sprocket"

Write a draft of 200-300 word response to Kenneth Sprocket, considering the serious perhaps even legal consequences if you were to share confidential company information in advance of the official merger discussions. How can you decline Sprocket's request without offending him, particularly given that you might soon be working for the same (merged) company?