Tag: Delaware
Books and Records – An Assist to Forum Selection
A frequent precursor to public company deal litigation is the books and records request under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Typically employed by plaintiffs as the first step of “information gathering” for derivative litigation, a company’s right to limit the potential geographic use of requested information has been validated by the Delaware courts.
The Latest in “Appraisal Arbitrage”
The practice of “appraisal arbitrage” has hit the radar for all public company dealmakers. Typically employed, to date, by activist investors and hedge funds, this strategic tool has recently received a shot in the arm with recent Court of Chancery opinions.
What Revlon Doesn’t Require
Two decisions by the Delaware courts (In re Family Dollar Stores, Inc. and C&J Energy Services Inc. v. City of Miami General Employees’ and Sanitation Employees’ Retirement Trust have more precisely defined the contours—substantive and procedural—of exactly what is (and what is not) required by a board of directors in complying with “Revlon” duties related to the sale of a controlling stake in a Delaware corporation.
M&A Releases and Post-Closing Indemnity Obligations in Private Company Merger Agreements
In Cigna Health & Life Insurance Company v. Audax Health Solutions, Inc. (Del. Ch. November 26, 2014), the Delaware Court of Chancery invalidated two buyer-imposed requirements that are frequently found in private company mergers, specifically the conditioning of payment of merger consideration on a release and certain aspects of post-closing […]
A Reminder on Adequate Process
The Delaware Chancery Court analyzes a dilutive recapitalization transaction under the entire fairness standard of review and finds flawed process, despite a fair price in the deal.
A Series of Proposed Amendments to Delaware Corporate Law
Summarized below are the currently proposed changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) that, if enacted, would become effective on August 1, 2014.
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 […]
Delaware General Corporation Law §251(h)
The amendments to Delaware law streamlining the back-end merger process in transactions structured as two-step tender offers went into effect August 1. DGCL 251(h) and the related changes to the DGCL permit acquirers to complete the back-end merger after receiving 50% plus one share tendered without being required to obtain […]