  We have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger
hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to
be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to
give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early type active
galaxies) requires the initial orbit of the satellite to be well aimed. For the
case of the host galaxy being a disc galaxy, if the initial orbits of the
satellites are randomly oriented with respect to the host galaxy, then the
orbits of those which reach the host nuclear regions in a reasonable time, are
also fairly randomly oriented once they reach the nucleus. We note that this
result might be able to provide an explanation of why the jet directions in the
nuclei of Seyfert galaxies are apparently unrelated to the plane of the galaxy
discs.
