Meaning & use
hostile takeover
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Meanings
nouncountablebusinessfinance
An attempt by one company to gain control of another by buying its shares, even though the target company's managers do not want to be bought.
Grammar: Has a plural: several hostile takeovers took place that year.
Patterns
- a hostile takeover of something
- a hostile takeover bid
The board rejected the offer, calling it a hostile takeover.
A rival chain launched a hostile takeover of the struggling retailer.
Shareholders voted against the hostile takeover.
nouncountablefigurativeinformal
A situation in which a person or group forcefully gains control of an organization or group against the wishes of its members.
Grammar: Used figuratively beyond business: a hostile takeover of the club.
Patterns
- a hostile takeover of something
Some members called the new rules a hostile takeover of the club.
The mayor accused the council of a hostile takeover of the project.
Parents feared a hostile takeover of the school board.
Word forms
| plural | hostile takeovers |
|---|
Common combinations
- launch a hostile takeover
- The firm launched a hostile takeover of its smaller rival.
- fend off a hostile takeover
- The managers tried to fend off a hostile takeover.
- a hostile takeover bid
- The hostile takeover bid was worth billions.
- fight a hostile takeover
- The founders fought the hostile takeover in court.
- face a hostile takeover
- The brewery faced a hostile takeover last year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unfriendly takeover
- This is a less common phrase for the same idea, while hostile takeover is the standard business term.
- corporate raid
- This suggests a sudden attack by an investor, often to sell off assets, whereas hostile takeover focuses on gaining control.
- acquisition
- This is neutral and may be agreed or opposed, whereas a hostile takeover is always opposed by the target.
- buyout
- A buyout means purchasing a controlling share, often by agreement, whereas a hostile takeover is opposed.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: hostile takeover or merger? hostile takeover or friendly takeover?
hostile takeover vs merger
A merger joins two companies by agreement, whereas a hostile takeover is a purchase the target resists.
hostile takeover vs friendly takeover
This is the agreed purchase of a company, the opposite of a hostile one.
Practice
The tech giant made a ___ for the smaller company even though its board refused the offer.
Choose one answer.
A hostile takeover is a purchase attempt the target opposes. A friendly merger and a joint venture both involve agreement, so they contradict the board's refusal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hostile takeover”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.