Beacon Roofing Supply on Tuesday adopted a poison pill defense to prevent a $11 billion hostile takeover by billionaire entrepreneur Brad Jacobs through his company QXO. The defense strategy creates a roadblock for Jacobs' attempt to become a big player in building products distribution through QXO,

QXO Inc. has launched a hostile takeover bid for Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. after the board of the building products company rejected its offer as too low.

M&A specialists are eyeing a robust list of U.S. takeover candidates, with a buoyant economy, strong buyer appetite and a potentially looser regulatory regime seen driving more deals.

Beacon Roofing Supply said on Tuesday it has adopted a limited duration stockholder rights agreement, commonly known as a poison pill, following a hostile takeover bid by QXO. Beacon is issuing one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of its common stock to stockholders,

Meanwhile, QXO maintains that its offer of $124.25 per share is 17% higher than the Beacon stock has ever traded; represents a 37% premium over the 90-day unaffected stock price; and represents a 26% premium to the stock the day before the Wall Street Journal’s Nov. 18 report that QXO was pursuing a deal.

Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. has started soliciting interest from potential buyers as it looks to fend off an $11 billion takeover bid from rival QXO Inc., people familiar with the matter said.