Articles and updates affecting M&A transactions
Category: Insight
Activists and the Poison Pill
In re Third Point LLC v. Ruprecht, et al. (Del. Ch. May 2, 2014). In the much anticipated review of Sotheby’s two-tiered stockholder rights plan adopted in response to Third Point’s activist campaign and proxy contest, the Delaware Court of Chancery held that the Sotheby’s board did not breach its […]
United States v. Bazaarvoice: A Cautionary Antitrust Tale for High-Tech Mergers
The recently concluded Department of Justice enforcement action against Bazaarvoice, Inc.’s 2012 acquisition of rival PowerReviews, Inc. is a reminder of important principles for antitrust enforcement in high-tech industries.
Recent Trends in Antitrust and Regulatory Risk – Shifting in M&A Agreements
The recent drumbeat of aggressive antitrust and regulatory merger enforcement has put a spotlight on the importance of understanding the antitrust and regulatory risks raised by a potential deal, and efficiently allocating that risk in the transaction agreement. While transactions in dynamic technology, healthcare/life sciences, new media and telecom industries […]
Appraisal Arbitrage – A Rising Star in the Activist Playbook
Shareholder activism gains momentum and publicity with each passing proxy season. Activist-focused funds increase capital and investor expectations, proxy contest tactics become more practiced and skillful, nominees for board positions are industry tailored and more sophisticated and social media increases the reach (and entertainment value) of activist communications. What comes […]
Kahn v. M&F Worldwide
In a much anticipated judicial development, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the holding of In re MFW Shareholders Litigation (Del. Ch. 2013) that if certain procedural protections are in place from the outset of a transaction, a controlling stockholder buyout otherwise subject to the entire fairness standard could be subject […]
In re Rural Metro Corporation Stockholders Litigation
In Rural Metro, the Delaware Chancery Court held that RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as financial advisor to the Rural Metro (Target), had aided and abetted Target’s directors in breach of their fiduciary duties in connection with its sale to Warburg Pincus (Buyer). This is the latest in a string of […]
FTC Expands HSR Reporting Obligations – Targeting Pharmaceutical Licensing Deals
A new Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) rule, which became effective December 16, 2013, targets the pharmaceutical industry and requires Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR) notices for a broader array of licensing transactions, expanding the types of deals that have to be notified to the government to allow antitrust enforcement agencies to scrutinize […]
Revised 2014 Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Thresholds – Effective February 24, 2014
The Federal Trade Commission has completed its annual adjustments to the filing thresholds under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. The new, higher thresholds will take effect on February 24, 2014 and apply to all transactions which close on or after this date but before the next round of adjustments takes effect in […]
Lengthening the Indemnification Claims Period
Delaware law limits parties’ ability to contractually agree to lengthen the time period for making claims beyond the statute of limitations that would otherwise apply to the underlying claims. A line of Delaware cases (the most well known of which is GRT, Inc. v. Marathon GTF Technology, Ltd.) have held […]
Ten Most Influential M&A Developments of this Millennium
As we turn the page on a new year, many of us reflect upon the noteworthy events of the past as we look forward to the future. Deal lawyers are not exempt from this phenomenon. We present herewith our choices for the 10 Most Influential M&A Developments of this Millennium […]