Yellow Knight - Definition
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at December 16th, 2020
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Yellow Knight Definition
A yellow knight is the name given to a corporation that was planning a hostile takeover but reconsiders its decision and decided to propose a merger to the other company. A hostile takeover occurs when an acquiring company decides to buy or takeover a company when the target company is not willing to relinquish its ownership. In a situation where a company that was initially planning a hostile takeover changes its approach and proposes a merger to the target company, a yellow knight has emerged.
A Little More on What is a Yellow Knight
Yellow knights are former predators in a hostile takeover but changed their approach to merge with the target company. Reversal of hostile takeover to merger can occur for a number of reasons, one of the major reasons is when that takeover will cost more or when the target company is quite strong and has a lot of defense tactics. A merger is friendlier than a hostile takeover, in a merger, both companies have equal positions. Although, a yellow knight can be described weak for backing out of a proposed hostile takeover. In most situations, yellow knights are said to emerge when acquiring company chickens out or develop cold feet and could no longer execute a hostile takeover.
References for Yellow Knight
- https://www.investopedia.com ... Mergers & Acquisitions
- https://www.divestopedia.com/definition/4707/yellow-knight
- https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/yellow-knight-definition-meaning/
- https://investinganswers.com/dictionary/y/yellow-knight
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yellow_Knight_of_Oz