Steven M. Davidoff, writing the popular Deal Professor column in the New York Times put together a list of the best and worst deals of the year 2012.

Davidoff lauds Burger King for its decision not to go through and IPO, but by selling itself to a SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) thus raising a total of $362 million. The professor has harsh words for Apple which he accuses of futile secretiveness.

“Apple showed its secretive side, forbidding a $358 million acquisition, AuthenTec, from announcing the deal through a news release or any other public communication other than a brief statement in a securities filing.”