white squire
- noun
- /ˈwaɪt ˈskwaɪər/
- Jargon
:
inversor protector
- The white squire purchased just enough shares to block the takeover attempt.
Examples
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When faced with a hostile bid, the board sought the help of a white squire to secure its independence.
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Several potential white squires were approached to support the beleaguered company.
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The company found a white squire to support its operations.
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Many businesses rely on a white squire during tough times.
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The board brought in a white squire to help fend off the hostile takeover and maintain its independence.
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To prevent a takeover, the company secured a white squire willing to invest in their future.
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Shareholders were relieved when a white squire stepped in with an investment to deter the takeover attempt.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although 'white' suggests benevolence and 'squire' suggests a local gentleman or supporter, those literal senses do not directly yield the specialized corporate-finance meaning of a minority investor brought in to prevent a hostile takeover. The phrase is a metaphorical, technical term (jargon) whose exact sense is context-dependent and not predictable from the constituents, so a B1 learner knowing the words would not infer the idiomatic meaning.
Etymology
The noun white squire may come from the image of a friendly squire who helps a knight but does not take control. 'White' suggests a good or neutral helper, so a white squire buys only a small share to help a company 'avoid a hostile takeover' without trying to run it.
