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Dow Schofield Watts llp


 

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PEARLS OF WISDOM

   

Bid defence  

 If a cash bid, one must find a white knight or almost inevitably face defeat.

 

Spirited defences are frequently effective against equity or mixed offers, even if there is evidence or financial failure before the bid.

 

Appeals to regulatory bodies may be effective.

 

An effective defence strategy must be pro-active not reactive.

 

Other tactics:
  1. cross shareholdings;
  2. groupings of firms;
  3. dual classes of shares.

 

See notes on takeover insurance.

 

Typical costs:              1%-2% of bid value
 
See also DEFENCE Strategies