takeover

noun

take·over | \ˈtāk-ˌō-vər

Definition of takeover

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the action or an act of taking over

take over

verb

Definition of take over (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to assume control or possession of or responsibility for military leaders took over the government

intransitive verb

1 : to assume control or possession

2 : to become dominant

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Examples of takeover in a Sentence

Noun

The government experienced a military takeover in 2002. the new government's high-handed takeover of private industries

Verb

I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break. took over the responsibility of caring for the animals

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Following school takeovers in Gary and Muncie by the state last year, lawmakers passed legislation in May requiring a concrete list of indicators to help prevent other schools from going down the same path. — Meredith Colias-pete, Post-Tribune, "State works on identifying troubled school districts," 13 July 2018 In an extremely complex takeover situation framed by fear of Netflix , however, sense may get lost in the mix. — Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, "The Disney-Comcast TV Drama Could Have More Twists Yet," 12 July 2018 Despite Matchbook’s own history of failure in two different states, and the abysmal performance of hybrid charters across Indiana, only one board member voted against Matchbook’s takeover of School 63 — Elizabeth Gore. — Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, "What’s really going on in Indiana’s public schools," 12 July 2018 In 1995, the details of Disney’s acquisition of ABC/Capital Partners were hashed out there, as was the 2000 Time Warner/AOL merger and Comcast’s 2011 takeover of NBCUniversal. — Janelle Nanos, BostonGlobe.com, "Billionaire summer camp begins in Sun Valley," 11 July 2018 Aspiring Republican politicians rode these issues into legislative takeovers in states like Colorado in 1976, by drawing support not just from rural but also from suburban voters. — Christopher Sellers, Vox, "How Republicans came to embrace anti-environmentalism," 6 July 2018 The tracking stock was created to help Dell finance its $67-billion purchase of data storage company EMC Corp. in 2016, the largest technology takeover ever at the time and one that nearly tripled Dell’s debt load. — Bloomberg, latimes.com, "Dell stock will trade publicly again, five years after leveraged buyout," 3 July 2018 Last season was one wild ride for the San Antonio Symphony: An aborted takeover by major funders, the brief cancellation of the season and the formation of a city/county task force to try to find solutions to long-standing problems. — Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, "After a bumpy season, the San Antonio Symphony in a stronger, sunnier place," 3 July 2018 In the Nineties, amid Clinton-era changes to health policy, a wave of mergers and corporate takeovers swept the hospital industry. — Livia Gershon, Longreads, "Nurses, Unite!," 28 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Craig Stoll confirmed to Inside Scoop that Pizzeria Delfina has a new spot in the works in SoMa, taking over the former home of A.G. Ferrari (688 Mission St., near Third St.). — Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, "Pizzeria Delfina plots SoMa outpost," 10 July 2018 Stalvey, one of the employees Wilde supervised, was supposed to take over the NICS task, but there wasn’t time to train her, multiple people told investigators. — Steve Contorno, miamiherald, "New information shows deeper problems with bungled concealed-weapon background checks," 6 July 2018 The rebranding was launched after Christine Specht, daughter of co-founder Bill Specht, took over as CEO in March 2015 when her father retired. — Henry J. Morgan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Menomonee Falls Cousins Subs celebrates July 11 reopening after redesign," 12 July 2018 The Astros were up by four to start the ninth inning against Oakland Tuesday night when Giles took over and gave up three straight singles, which cut the lead to 4-1. — BostonGlobe.com, "Astros punish Ken Giles by sending him to Triple A," 12 July 2018 Matt Frazier will be the Estancia boys’ and girls’ water polo head coach, while Amber Peters takes over as the Eagles’ head swim coach, Estancia athletic director Nate Goellrich said in an email Monday. — Matt Szabo, latimes.com, "Estancia hires Matt Frazier, Amber Peters to lead aquatics program," 11 July 2018 Fresh off a lead role in what was arguably the best show of the last decade, Keri Russell is poised to take over Hollywood. — refinery29.com, "This Is Keri Russell's Time To Shine — Welcome To The Russell-ution, Comrades," 13 July 2018 Sophomore Devon Modster and Michigan transfer Wilton Speight have the most experience, but freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson is expected to eventually take over the offense. — Matt Murschel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "New coach Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins are No. 45 in 2018 preseason college football rankings," 13 July 2018 The two passengers started beating him and tried to take over the car. — Hannah Leone, chicagotribune.com, "Ride-share driver dragged during West Side carjacking," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'takeover.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near takeover

takeout double

take out insurance on

Phrases Related to takeover

hostile takeover

takeover bid

Statistics for takeover

Last Updated

13 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for takeover

The first known use of takeover was in 1618

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More Definitions for takeover

takeover

noun

Financial Definition of takeover

What It Is

A takeover is the purchase of a company. A takeover is different from a merger, which occurs when the purchaser and the target both cease to exist and instead form a new, combined company.

How It Works

Let's assume Company XYZ wants to acquire Company ABC. Company XYZ might just start buying ABC shares on the open market, but once Company XYZ acquires 5% of ABC, it must formally (and publicly) declare how many shares it owns to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Company XYZ must also state whether it intends to create an ABC takeover or just hold its existing shares as an investment.

If Company XYZ indeed wants to proceed with the takeover, it will make a tender offer to ABC's board of directors (followed by an announcement to the press). The tender offer will indicate, among other things, how much Company XYZ is willing to pay for ABC and how long ABC shareholders have to accept the offer.

The most common methods of determining the target's value are to look at comparable companies in the industry and to conduct a discounted cash flow analysis, but evaluating other measures such as P/E ratios, price-to-sales ratios, or even replacement costs provides valuable insight. Acquirers often have to pay a premium above the market price of the target company's shares in order to get the shareholders to agree to the takeover.

Once the tender offer is made, ABC can accept the terms of the offer, negotiate a different price, use a "poison pill" or other defense to avert the deal, or find somebody else to sell to who will pay as much or more as XYZ is offering. If ABC accepts the offer, regulatory bodies then review the transaction to ensure the combination does not create a monopoly or other anticompetitive circumstances within the industries involved. If the regulatory bodies approve the transaction, the parties exchange funds and the deal is closed.

Companies often conduct takeovers with cash, but they also use debt and their own stock as well, and there are often tax consequences associated with each form of currency.

Why It Matters

Takeovers can create a bigger, more competitive, more cost-efficient entities. This synergy -- that is, the idea that the two companies together are more valuable to the shareholders than they are apart -- is elusive, but it is what justifies most takeovers. After all, acquirers always have the much harder option of trying to "grow their own" by starting their own competitive ventures instead of buying someone else's. Targets often succumb to takeovers because at the end of the day, the price is right. And on both sides, a well-executed takeover can be the crowning jewel of a CEO's career.

Source: Investing Answers

takeover

noun