Federal Court Gives Teeth to Operational Efforts Covenant in Sanofi/Genzyme Earn-Out Dispute
We keep a close eye on developing cases regarding earn-outs and contingent payment rights in light of the prevalent use of these arrangements in life sciences deals and their increasing use in non-life sciences deals. On September 8, 2016, a federal court in New York declined to dismiss a claim […]
Court Gives Energy Transfer the Right to Walk Based on its Counsel’s Inability to Deliver the Required Tax Opinion
In a rare decision involving unusual facts, the Delaware Court of Chancery held that a buyer (Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.) had the right to terminate a signed merger agreement with its target (The Williams Companies, Inc.) that Energy Transfer no longer wished to close due to the unexpected decline in […]
Federal Appeals Court Rejects “Disclosure-Only” Settlement
Yesterday, in In re: Walgreen Co., the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a “disclosure-only settlement” involving Walgreen Co.’s 2014 purchase of Alliance Boots and the combined company’s subsequent reorganization. In a strongly-worded but divided opinion, the Court reversed the district court’s ruling, which approved (albeit reluctantly) the disclosure settlement […]
Webinar Recording: Compensation and Benefits Issues in M&A Transactions
Employee benefits and executive compensation issues rarely drive an M&A transaction. But these issues can result in unexpected delays and can make or break a successful post-closing integration of the companies. This webinar focuses on key employee benefits and executive compensation issues that should be considered by public companies in M&A […]
Shareholder Activism and HSR Collide: DOJ Obtains Record Fine from ValueAct
The Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced on July 12 that ValueAct Capital agreed to pay a record $11 million civil penalty to settle claims that ValueAct purchased over $2.5 billion in Halliburton and Baker Hughes stock with the intention of influencing their proposed $35 billion merger without complying with […]
Failure to Comply with the HSR Act: The Price is Going Up
Failure to comply with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”) is about to get a lot more expensive. Effective August 1, 2016, the maximum civil penalty for noncompliance with the premerger notification requirements of the HSR Act will increase from $16,000 to $40,000 per day – a […]
Dell Decision and Recent Amendments to Delaware’s Appraisal Statute
Section 262 of the DGCL provides a statutory remedy for stockholders who do not vote in favor of certain M&A transactions (generally cash mergers) to petition the corporation to buy their stock at a price equivalent to the “fair value” of the stock, subject to compliance with certain procedures. A […]
From Aeroflex to Trulia: A Seismic Shift
On January 22, 2016, Chancellor Bouchard rejected a proposed disclosure-only settlement in In re Trulia, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, 129 A.3d 884 (Del. Ch. 2016), marking the culmination of what has been a seismic shift over the past several months in the Delaware Chancery Court’s treatment of disclosure-only settlements in lawsuits challenging […]
CDX Holdings Decision Spotlights the Treatment of Stock Options in a Merger
The treatment of outstanding stock options and other equity compensation awards is often a key element of a sale transaction. Because stock options can represent considerable value, how they are treated can have a significant impact on the company’s management team and employees. For the parties negotiating the transaction, it can […]
DE Court Comments on Block-Holder Rights in OptimisCorp
The Delaware Supreme Court issued an Order this week in OptimisCorp v. Waite that could have implications for VC-backed or other companies with so-called “block-holder” directors – or directors who are appointed by a stockholder with a large block of shares – in the context of corporate turmoil where management, […]