Freeze Out
Definition of 'Freeze Out'An action taken by a firm's majority shareholders that pressures minority holders to sell their stakes in the company. A variety of maneuvers may be considered freeze-out tactics, such as the termination of minority shareholder employees or the refusal to declare dividends.Also referred to as a "squeeze out". |
|
Investopedia explains 'Freeze Out'Freeze outs usually occur closely held companies, where majority shareholders can converse with one another. Majority shareholders attempt to freeze out the minority from the decision making process, rendering minority voting rights useless. Such actions are often illegal and may be overturned by the courts. |
Related Definitions
Articles Of Interest
-
What Are Corporate Actions?
Be a savvy investor - learn how corporate actions affect you as a shareholder. -
Knowing Your Rights As A Shareholder
We delve into common stock owners' privileges and how to be vigilant in monitoring a company. -
Who is responsible for protecting and managing shareholders' interests?
The average shareholder, who is typically not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, relies on several parties to protect and further his or her interests. These parties include ... -
If I reject the tender offer for acquisition of the stock that I own in a company and the company goes private, what happens to my stock?
Since the passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a significant number of public companies have chosen to go private. The reasons why companies make this choice are as varied as the companies themselves, ... -
Earnings Guidance: Can It Accurately Predict The Future?
Explore the controversies surrounding companies commenting on their forward-looking expectations. -
Mergers And Acquisitions: Understanding Takeovers
In the dramatic world of M&As, battleground terms meld with bizarre metaphors to form the language of the game. -
The Path To Becoming A CEO
Think you have what it takes to be chief executive? Find out what those at the top have in common. -
Wall Street’s Glass Ceiling
It’s tough to boast that there are more female CEOs than ever before when they make up only 4.2% of the total. -
Is Lululemon's Chief Product Officer to Blame For Sheer Debacle?
Lululemon announced April 3 that Chief Product Officer Sheree Waterson was leaving the company as of April 15. Assigning blame might appease the board, but it shouldn't do anything for investors. -
Schulze Plus Joly Equals Success?
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze announced March 25 that he was dropping his bid for the company and rejoining the board as Chairman Emeritus. Two other former board members are rejoining as ...
Free Annual Reports