M&A Go-Shop Provision and Breakup Fees

Say that we have AcquirerCo. submitting an initial bid of $100mm to acquire TargetCo., and TargetCo. is given a 2-months go-shop provision to seek higher bids. If TargetCo. ends up receiving a higher bid and decides to take that higher bid, it would have to pay a 3% breakup fee ($3mm) to AcquirerCo. 

In this case, does it mean that rival bidders would have to bid at least $100mm + $3mm = $103mm in order to have a chance? And if a rival bidder bids $103mm, then AcquirerCo. could technically "match" the higher offer by keeping the initial bid of $100mm and not moving it up?

Sources like this always seem to mention that "go-shop provisions grant the original bidder the ability to match any competing offers". In this context, does "matching" a bid for AcquirerCo. means submitting an updated bid that's $3mm less than the rival bid? 

For example, if a rival bidder emerged with a $107mm bid, can AcquirerCo. "match" that with a $107mm - $3mm = $104mm bid? They would mean technically the same due to the $3mm breakup fee, correct?

2 Comments
 

This is the way I understand these examples:
I think TargetCo would go to AcquirerCo before accepting the higher bid, asking for it to be matched. Then, if the bid is matched, there is no breakup fee paid out as TargetCo did not accept the second bid.

 
Most Helpful

Dolore id ut sit cupiditate reprehenderit. Et omnis aut repudiandae accusamus modi ut sequi. Fuga voluptates sed vel quibusdam iste. Minima itaque eum vitae voluptatem soluta voluptate.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”