About two years ago, the company's directors adopted several anti-takeover defenses to keep Pillsbury independent.

He also asked that Chrysler's anti-takeover defenses be relaxed to allow a single shareholder to own up to 20 percent of the company.

The investors also persuaded Texaco management to agree to weaken anti-takeover defenses.

Reebok said it would also seek staggered terms for its directors, a common anti-takeover defense.

Reebok immediately said it planned to remain independent and to establish various anti-takeover defenses.

Irving's decision to yield came one day after a New York court decided that a key component of the bank's anti-takeover defense was invalid.

Responding to the concern, Conrail has put its own anti-takeover defenses in place.

One reason is that the will to fight off a hostile bidder with exotic anti-takeover defenses has declined.

The announcement was made just hours after Holly Farms had activated an anti-takeover defense.

The tactic will provide tax benefits as well as a anti-takeover defense.