what is a hostile takeover 
a hostile takeover is a type of acquisition that occurs when a company tries to gain control over another without the approval of the target s board the target firm which doesn t want to be purchased may do what it can to prevent being acquired this includes using defensive strategies such as white knights and poison pills or rejecting any offers outright the acquirer on the other hand may try to purchase a controlling interest in the company if unsuccessful the acquirer may circumvent the target s board and go public with its offer to try to get the word out to investors and force the board to consider its offer 