friendly takeover bid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'friendly takeover bid' is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to refer to the acquisition of a company by another one, with the agreement of the target company. For example, "The company accepted a friendly takeover bid from its largest shareholder."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The international banking group HSBC Holdings made a surprise friendly takeover bid for the French bank CCF today in a move to build a strong base in continental Europe.

The New York Times

U.S. sportswear company Quiksilver announced a friendly takeover bid for France's Skis Rossignol on Tuesday in a deal to create a sports equipment and apparel group with revenue of almost 2 billion euros ($2.64 billion).

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It has no defense against a takeover bid, friendly or hostile, and should be a division of a bigger firm.

Forbes

Anderson began its evaluation in mid-February and was about to negotiate a friendly takeover when Hunt made a surprise bid.

The New York Times

Cnooc officials pleaded with Washington and Unocal officials, saying that they were simply attempting a "friendly" takeover of Unocal with a higher bid and would even pay the $500 million breakup fee to Chevron if Unocal agreed to break its earlier agreement with Chevron.

The New York Times

C1 Northrop Tries the Carrot Northrop Grumman is planning to hold talks with the top TRW executives on negotiating a friendly takeover deal after Northrop's $6.7 billion hostile bid was rejected by TRW shareholders.

The New York Times

Barclays had initially agreed with ABN Amro in April on a friendly takeover, but the Royal Bank of Scotland and its bidding partners — Fortis, a Belgian-Dutch bank, and Banco Santander Central Hispano, Spain's largest bank — made a higher offer.

The New York Times

He is invited to join the CBS board as a friendly director who, analysts say, could forestall a hostile takeover bid.

The New York Times

The Dutch company launched a hostile takeover bid for VLSI two months ago, but the final agreement was friendly, the two companies said.

Forbes

Soon afterwards Switzerland's Roche decided to abandon its previously friendly overtures toward Genentech, a Californian biotechnology pioneer, in favour of a hostile takeover bid.

The Economist

Abbey National P.L.C. refused to rule out a hostile bid for Bank of Scotland but reiterated that it preferred a friendly takeover deal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a takeover bid in business or financial writing, specify the key terms of the bid, like the price per share, method of payment (cash or stock), and any conditions attached.

Common error

Avoid using "friendly takeover bid" if the target company's board or major shareholders express opposition or reluctance, as it misrepresents the true nature of the acquisition process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "friendly takeover bid" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific type of offer made by one company to acquire another, emphasizing the cooperative nature of the transaction. This is validated by Ludwig AI which confirms the correct usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "friendly takeover bid" is a noun phrase used to describe an acquisition offer that is welcomed by the target company. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While grammatically sound, this phrase is relatively rare, appearing most often in news and media and academic contexts. When writing about corporate acquisitions, ensure the 'friendly' aspect is accurate to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "amicable acquisition offer" or "consensual merger proposal" can offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amicable acquisition offer

Replaces 'takeover bid' with a synonym emphasizing agreement.

consensual merger proposal

Emphasizes mutual agreement and formal combination.

agreed acquisition attempt

Highlights the agreement between parties in the acquisition.

negotiated buyout offer

Focuses on the negotiation aspect and the purchase of controlling interest.

voluntary business acquisition

Underscores the voluntary nature of the acquisition process.

cooperative acquisition approach

Highlights the cooperative nature of the acquisition process.

non-hostile takeover attempt

Directly contrasts with hostile takeovers, focusing on the absence of conflict.

unopposed acquisition bid

Highlights that the acquisition bid faces no opposition.

harmonious company acquisition

Emphasizes the smooth and agreeable nature of the company acquisition.

collaborative merger initiative

Focuses on the collaborative effort leading to the merger.

FAQs

What distinguishes a "friendly takeover bid" from a hostile one?

A "friendly takeover" involves mutual agreement and cooperation between the acquiring and target companies, while a hostile takeover occurs when the target company's management resists the acquisition.

What are some alternatives to saying "friendly takeover bid"?

You could use phrases such as "amicable acquisition offer", "consensual merger proposal", or "agreed acquisition attempt" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is the term "friendly takeover bid" most appropriately used?

The term is typically used in business, finance, and legal contexts when discussing corporate mergers and acquisitions where both parties are in agreement.

What factors determine if a takeover bid is considered "friendly"?

A takeover bid is considered friendly if the target company's board of directors recommends that shareholders accept the offer and if the acquiring company engages in negotiations and due diligence with the target company's management.