Sea-Land Corp. adopted a ‘poison pill’ defense.

The Menlo Park, N.J.-based firm is using the defense in the face of a hostile takeover attempt by Dallas financier Harold C. Simmons. Under the plan, Sea-Land stockholders of record Dec. 20 will receive rights entitling them to buy the stock of a hostile suitor at a 50% discount--if an unwelcome bidder acquired 35% or more of Sea-Land’s stock or launches a tender offer that would give the bidder 35% or more of the company.