white knight

white knight

1. One who saves another person from harm or a difficult situation. I don't remember much from the accident, but I am forever grateful to the white knight who freed me from my car. When Sally came to help with the kids when I was in the hospital, she really was our white night.
2. A person or company that purchases, or gives money to, another company that is in financial distress or about to be acquired by a third party. We all thought we were going to lose our jobs, but then a white knight purchased the company and saved it from bankruptcy.
See also: knight, white
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a white knight

a company that makes a welcome bid for a company facing an unwelcome takeover bid.
The image here is of the traditional figure from chivalric romances, who rides to the rescue of someone in danger. See also a knight in shining armour (at knight).
See also: knight, white
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a white knight
  • take forever
  • for ever and a day
  • forever and a day
  • mercy
  • forever after
  • owe (one) a debt of gratitude
  • owe a debt of gratitude
  • owe a debt of gratitude to (someone)
  • owing
References in periodicals archive
Secondly, the concept of the 'white knight' avoids the difficulties that arise from litigation.
White Knight Paints has been a leader here too, recently releasing two innovative products.
Masayoshi Son, president of Softbank, said if TBS proposes a business tie-up with Softbank, he ''would seriously consider it.'' Son did not rule out the possibility of becoming a white knight for the TV station.
Add your name, address and daytime phone number and send it to White Knight Promotion, PO Box 39, Birmingham, B4 6AH.
largesse arrives as a white knight or a white blight.
emerged on Friday as Accelio Corp.'s white knight (LIO.TO), riding to the rescue of the Canadian business forms maker with a $72-million all-stock offer that trumps a hostile bid from Open Text Corp.
In the end, he was the white knight he claimed to be, as well as Don Quixote.
The company is currently operating in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is searching for 'white knight' investor.
He was certain he would find a "white knight" who would allow him to retain control of the company.
In other words, as the competition takes the traditional approach of cutting back on "marketing" (i.e., service) and makes it clear that customers are not their first priority, this foundry is positioning itself to ride in like a white knight. This is the best way I know to make a terrific impression even on the most jaded buyer and not lowering your prices one penny to do it.
All of which reflects the type of commitment that starts at the top, and maybe best illustrated by Filopoulos's most recent role as "white knight."
The company has announced new uses for its calcium-hydroxide-based filler, White Knight. The calcium hydroxide made by ReBase is a co-product of the acetylene gas manufacturing process.
In September 1987, the Tonka Corporation, a toy manufacturer, entered the control contest for Kenner Parker Toys as a "white knight" to save Kenner Parker from New World Entertainment Ltd.
Fees Paid to White Knights. The IRS has ruled that fees incurred in order to facilitate a friendly merger with a white knight are akin to the fees at issue in National Starch, and thus must be capitalized.(53) Such a merger would presumably result in a future benefit to the target.
While it is a little hard to envision the federal government as a white knight to the rescue, it has provided us working people with the 401 (k) as a different way to save for retirement needs.