up for acquisition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up for acquisition" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in business contexts to indicate that a company or asset is available for purchase or takeover. Example: "The tech startup is currently up for acquisition, attracting interest from several larger firms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(Pinterest is still in there; if Twitter allows it to stay in the "approved list" then either it is eyeing it up for acquisition, or it thinks it isn't a threat).

The Guardian - Tech

When a company is going public or up for acquisition, the investors want to be sure you are liquid.

TechCrunch

Now that McAfee has more room to maneuver, is it possible that the company will snatch up some of the cybersecurity startups rumored to be up for acquisition?

TechCrunch

As for "Slug," she said it was up for acquisition by MoMA, "so we'll just have to wait and see".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As it seeks to resume business after the contentious departure of its former chief executive, Mark V. Hurd, H.P. again has shown little timidity about paying up for acquisitions.

The New York Times

They could either gear up for acquisitions, or they could raise debt defensively, as Britain's BAA, the world's largest airport operator, may do to fend off a highly leveraged potential bid from Ferrovial, a Spanish conglomerate.This makes sense as long as interest rates or a downturn do not put borrowers under intolerable strain.

The Economist

Using these data, we determined the dynamic Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus using Equations 3 and 4 (Guéguen and Palciauskas [1994]), respectively: V d = Vp 2 − 2 Vs 2 / 2 Vp 2 − Vs 2 (3) E d = ρ Vs 2 3 Vp 2 − 4 Vs 2 / Vp 2 − Vs 2 (4) Figure 3 Loading frame set-up for acquisition of elastic velocities at the University of Canterbury.

Geothermal Energy

Meanwhile, as Congress dithered and the president left most of the responsibility for the project to his brother Jeb, then the governor of Florida, costs have gone up — for land acquisition, for water storage, for rejiggering canals and levees and for building the treatment systems necessary to clean up the polluted water that flows into the Everglades from the sugar cane fields.

The New York Times

Financial flames snuffed, Williamson is gearing up for some acquisitions.

Forbes

As part of that strategy, Bristol-Myers sold its ConvaTec wound care and ostomy business this year, freeing up $4.1 billion for acquisitions.

The New York Times

The NYC-based contextual advertising company's founding CEO, Doug Stevenson, told M&A news service Mergermarket that Vibrant Media has "all the elements in place" for a public offering "if it were deemed appropriate", and is currently in the midst of sizing up companies for acquisitions of their own.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider replacing "up for acquisition" with more direct language like "available for purchase" or "on the market for acquisition" for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "up for acquisition" when referring to something that is simply for sale, not necessarily a takeover or merger. The phrase implies a more significant change in ownership and control.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up for acquisition" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the noun (typically a company or asset) is available or intended for purchase by another entity. It's a concise way to convey that a sale or takeover is a distinct possibility, as indicated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up for acquisition" is an adjective phrase signaling that a company or asset is available for purchase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its frequent appearance in business contexts. While relatively uncommon, it's widely understood in financial and business circles. For clarity in formal writing, consider alternatives like "available for purchase". The phrase often appears in news and media, particularly in discussions of potential mergers and acquisitions. Remember that it should not be used when describing something that is simply for sale and when used be sure to specify if it's a company, asset, or specific technology.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

available for purchase

Replaces the idiom with a straightforward description of availability.

on the market for acquisition

Specifies that the item or company is being actively offered for acquisition.

seeking a buyer

Highlights the active search for someone to buy the entity.

open to offers

Indicates a willingness to consider potential acquisition proposals.

subject to acquisition

Emphasizes that the company or asset is in a state where acquisition is possible.

ripe for takeover

Suggests that conditions are particularly favorable for an acquisition.

on the selling block

An idiomatic expression indicating something is openly for sale, suitable for acquisition.

ready to be acquired

Directly states the preparedness for an acquisition to occur.

potential acquisition target

Focuses on the perspective of the acquiring party, highlighting the target status.

for sale to strategic partners

Narrows down the potential buyers to those who could benefit strategically from the acquisition.

FAQs

What does it mean for a company to be "up for acquisition"?

When a company is "up for acquisition", it means that it is "available for purchase" by another company or investor. It indicates that the owners are willing to sell the company.

What are some signs that a company might be "up for acquisition"?

Signs can include declining financial performance, strategic shifts, active pursuit of partnerships, or a general openness to offers as mentioned in the phrase "open to offers".

Is being "up for acquisition" a good or bad thing for a company?

It depends on the circumstances. It could be a positive outcome if the acquisition brings needed resources or expertise. However, it can be negative if it results from financial distress or unwanted takeover as mentioned in "ripe for takeover".

What can I say instead of "up for acquisition"?

You can use alternatives like "available for purchase", "on the market for acquisition", or "seeking a buyer", depending on the context.