RobinB Feb 19, 2009:

Nothing to do with severance payments! "Abfindung" here has nothing to do with severance payments or other termination benefits! Or since when did shareholders get severance? What it means here is "takeover", and more specifically the squeeze-out compensation offered to minority shareholders once the threshold for mandatory squeeze-out offers has been reached. Traditionally, this then offers minority shareholders a bargaining chip for screwing more money out of the acquirer (coupled with the threat of lengthy and expensive court action if the acquirer doesn't pony up).

A good example of polysemy if ever I saw one....