A hostile takeover is a business acquisition in which the acquiring company, often referred to as the "acquirer" or "bidder," makes an offer to purchase the target company's shares without the consent or cooperation of the target company's management.
In a hostile takeover, the acquirer may circumvent the target company's board of directors and make a direct offer to shareholders, often at a premium price, in an attempt to gain control of the company. This can involve aggressive tactics such as a public tender offer, a proxy fight, or a hostile merger.
Hostile takeovers are generally seen as more contentious and risky than friendly takeovers, which are acquisitions that are negotiated and agreed upon by the target company's management and the acquirer. Hostile takeovers can be a way for companies to gain control of a target company's assets, intellectual property, market share, or other valuable resources, but they can also be disruptive and contentious, and may lead to conflicts between management, shareholders, and other stakeholders.
