Killer bees are a type of corporate defense specialist which have become increasingly important in recent decades, particularly during the 1980s when corporate America was subjected to numerous hostile takeovers. The goal of killer bees is to provide anti-takeover strategies to defend target companies from hostile takeover attempts.
The task of killer bees is to devise strategies that make it more difficult, or costlier, for raiders to successfully seize control of a target firm. Such strategies can include greenmail (the payment of a premium for purchased shares that must then be resold at a premium), poison pills (generally involving the issuing of additional stock shares to current shareholders that dilute a raider's stake at a lower cost than takeover) and staggered boards (the spreading of the terms of board members over multiple years so all cannot be replaced by the raider at once). While often effective, these strategies come at a price, often at the expense of shareholders and raider alike who demand accountability and flexibility.
Killer bees are organized into specialized consulting firms that have become increasingly active in recent decades, especially in the wake of the hostile takeover trend of the 1980s. These firms stand to benefit financially when they are successfully employed in defense of a firm, which has caused some to question their motives and their tactics.
The effectiveness of killer bees has been subject to scrutiny and debate, with some contending that they often benefit a target firm’s management at the expense of shareholder rights. In recent years, the strategies employed by killer bees have been subjected to increased legal and regulatory scrutiny, raising questions about their long-term viability as a defense tactic. Nevertheless, it appears that killer bees will remain a fixture on the corporate defense scene for the foreseeable future.
The task of killer bees is to devise strategies that make it more difficult, or costlier, for raiders to successfully seize control of a target firm. Such strategies can include greenmail (the payment of a premium for purchased shares that must then be resold at a premium), poison pills (generally involving the issuing of additional stock shares to current shareholders that dilute a raider's stake at a lower cost than takeover) and staggered boards (the spreading of the terms of board members over multiple years so all cannot be replaced by the raider at once). While often effective, these strategies come at a price, often at the expense of shareholders and raider alike who demand accountability and flexibility.
Killer bees are organized into specialized consulting firms that have become increasingly active in recent decades, especially in the wake of the hostile takeover trend of the 1980s. These firms stand to benefit financially when they are successfully employed in defense of a firm, which has caused some to question their motives and their tactics.
The effectiveness of killer bees has been subject to scrutiny and debate, with some contending that they often benefit a target firm’s management at the expense of shareholder rights. In recent years, the strategies employed by killer bees have been subjected to increased legal and regulatory scrutiny, raising questions about their long-term viability as a defense tactic. Nevertheless, it appears that killer bees will remain a fixture on the corporate defense scene for the foreseeable future.