But by then the Fayeds were proceeding with their friendly bid and Lonrho no longer had a blocking stake in the company.

On the 3rd May 2011, the Group launched a friendly bid for Volcom, a company specialized in action sports.

It currently has a $9.5 billion hostile bid on the table, countering an almost identical, friendly bid from Viacom.

The bank has made a friendly bid to acquire 51 percent of Irving.

Analysts said then that they did not expect the deal to be completed because the Haas group said it preferred to pursue a friendly bid.

Late last year, Inco, which earned $701 million in its last quarter as an independent company, started its friendly bid for Falconbridge.

But he did not preclude a friendly bid.

It said then that it was considering whether to make a friendly bid for the company or to recommend a recapitalization or restructuring.

Analysts said that Abbott's friendly bid for Medisense was probably sweet enough to ward off competitors.

Alternatives to an outsider's bid, Mr. Fraiden added, might be a restructuring of the target company or a friendly alternative bid.