Tag: Private Equity
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 […]
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, […]
Options to Acquire: How these Creative Acquisition Strategies Differ from a Traditional Purchase
Creative acquisition strategies are offering both buyers and targets additional opportunities to grow their businesses through M&A. One strategy that we are seeing parties use is the “option to acquire” structure, which addresses both the needs of a target company to develop a product or business on the one hand […]
No Harm, but Foul: Process Considerations for “Interested” Transactions
After over seven years of litigation, the Delaware Supreme Court on December 11, 2015 upheld the Court of Chancery’s important decision in Nine Systems, which held that a 2002 recapitalization of a streaming media start-up unfairly diluted the minority stockholders when VC-backed directors failed to include the stockholders in an emergency round of financing […]
Court Upholds Banker Liability for Inducing Faulty Process in Rural/Metro Sale
On November 30, 2015, in RBC Capital Markets, LLC v. Jervis (C.A. No. 6350-VCL) the Delaware Supreme Court upheld the principal rulings finding financial advisor RBC Capital Markets, LLC liable for approximately $76 million in damages for aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties by former directors of Rural/Metro Corporation in connection […]
Rep and Warranty Insurance: Trends and Key Considerations
Over the last several years, transactional insurance, or representation and warranties insurance (“R&W Insurance”), has become a more prominent part of the M&A landscape.
Utilizing Drag-Along Rights in Private Company Merger Agreements
In our January 2015 newsletter we discussed the recent decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery in the Cigna Health & Life Company v. Audax Health Solutions, Inc. case, which invalidated two purchaser-imposed requirements that are frequently found in private company mergers, specifically the conditioning of payment of merger consideration on […]
Exploring the Scope of Recovery for Fraud Claims in Private Company Transactions
Court reviews detailed allegations and potential scope of recovery for fraud alleged against pre-closing officers, directors and, notably, innocent selling stockholders in a private company acquisition.