stalking-horse bid
An initial offer on a bankrupt company's assets by a potential buyer choosen by the fallen company.
Pete: I heard Cogswell Cog's is going bankrupt.
John: Yes, I heard Spacely Sprockets put a bid in to buy them.
Pete: Yeah I heard that too... but the way I heard it, Spacey just put in a stalking-horse bid and may not want Cogswell at all.
John: Yes, I heard Spacely Sprockets put a bid in to buy them.
Pete: Yeah I heard that too... but the way I heard it, Spacey just put in a stalking-horse bid and may not want Cogswell at all.