Ryan A. McLeod

Wachtell Lipton Discusses the New New Regime in Delaware Appraisal Law

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A recent spate of appraisal decisions signals that the Delaware courts will be skeptical of claims that the “fair value” of a company’s stock, as determined in a judicial proceeding brought by a dissenter from the merger, will be higher than the price paid in the transaction.  To the contrary, in the context of strategic transactions—which may include synergy value to which dissenting stockholders are not entitled under the appraisal statute—Delaware has made clear that the appraised value may well be less than the deal price.

These decisions follow the important and welcome rulings of the Delaware Supreme Court in … Read more

Wachtell Lipton discusses Delaware Supreme Court Holding that Fully Informed Stockholder Approval of Third-Party Mergers Shields Transactions from Review

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In an important ruling last week, the Delaware Supreme Court reaffirmed that control of Delaware companies lies in the boardroom and held that the deferential business judgment rule is the “appropriate standard of review for a post-closing damages action” when a third-party merger “has been approved by a fully informed, uncoerced majority of the disinterested stockholders.”  Corwin v. KKR Fin. Holdings LLC, No. 629, 2014 (Del. Oct. 2, 2015) (en banc).

The ruling affirms the Court of Chancery’s dismissal of a case challenging KKR’s $2.6 billion acquisition of KKR Financial Holdings LLC (“KFN”), about which we previously wrote.  … Read more

Wachtell on Controlling Shareholders and the Business Judgment Rule in Going Private Merger Transactions

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The Delaware Court of Chancery this week held that the use of both an independent special committee and a majority-of-the-minority vote condition in a go-private merger between a controlled company and its controlling stockholder will result in application of the deferential business judgment rule standard of review rather than the onerous entire fairness standard.  In re MFW S’holders Litig., C.A. No. 6566-CS (Del. Ch. May 29, 2013).

The case arose out of a stockholder challenge to a merger in which MacAndrews & Forbes acquired the 57% of M&F Worldwide it did not already own.  The transaction was subject to … Read more

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Wachtell Lipton Discusses Recent Decisions Stressing Potential Disclosure-Based Litigation Claims

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With the 2013 proxy season now well underway, two recent decisions emphasize the potential litigation risks public companies face under federal and state disclosure law. These decisions highlight the need for companies to focus on disclosure requirements as they prepare their proxy statements.

In a highly anticipated opinion issued this past Friday, the federal court for the Southern District of New York has enjoined a vote on a management-sponsored proposal at Apple’s upcoming annual shareholder meeting. Greenlight Capital, L.P. v. Apple, Inc., No. 13 Civ. 900 (RJS) (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2013). Two of Apple’s shareholders (including an activist shareholder … Read more

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Editor's Tweet: Wachtell Lipton Discusses Recent Greenlight and Symantec decisions