Hogtown

actually you vote with your shares. when a company begins an acqusition they start to buy up shares and once they accumulate 10% they have to make a public announce ment that they want to buy the company. typically during the first part you will see shares move up. Once an announcement is made, and their intention become public the target company needs to decide if they want to sell, then either begin negotiation or perhaps put a poison pills trategy in place if they do not.

If a deal is made then a tender offer is made and shareholders can either sell of keep their shares. The acquiring company needs majority to take over the company.

It get interesting if is become hostile and the tender offers keep going up. the sp will also climb on spec in this process.