Blitzkrieg Tender Offer

Just like going into battle during World War II, a blitzkrieg (German for lightning war) is a takeover offer that is so attractive to shareholders that the acquirer hopes they can bypass the board of directors to get approval.

So yeah...think: lightning fast. A blitzkrieg tender offer is available "For a Limited Time Only!!!" For example, if a target company’s current stock price is $10, a blitzkrieg tender offer might be for $15, hoping they can acquire at least 51% of the shares.

The Williams Act of 1968 defeated the blitzkrieg tactic by requiring the company wanting to take over to provide details in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. In the filing, they have to say where the cash to buy is coming from (i.e. probably shouldn't be from a bank heist), and plans for the company after the takeover. The acquiring company must also give at least 20 business days for the target company to respond to the offer.