Hostile Takeover (versus Friendly Takeover)

A hostile takeover occurs when one company attempts to acquire another without the consent of the target company's management or board of directors. This often happens by directly appealing to shareholders or bypassing management, sometimes through buying large amounts of stock. In contrast, a friendly takeover is a mutually agreed-upon process where both companies' leadership collaborate on the acquisition. Hostile takeovers are typically seen as aggressive moves, while friendly ones are cooperative strategies aimed at growth or synergy.