Dealing with an Unsolicited Offer - The Bank Account
Strengthening Board Control - OpenAI is exploring governance changes that would grant its nonprofit board enhanced voting rights to prevent a hostile takeover by Elon Musk. This move follows Musk’s $97.4 billion bid, which...more
ESG—environmental, social, and governance—has been the new hot topic for the last several years. Yet companies are still trying to come to grips with what it means and how they can address these varying and often competing...more
Attitudes are shifting, thanks to changes in corporate governance - Japan has long resisted unsolicited takeovers. Despite the prevalence of such transactions in other large M&A markets such as the US and in Europe, never...more
In mid-March 2020, concerned about opportunistic activist stockholders, a precipitous decline in oil prices and corresponding stock volatility, as well as uncertainty created by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the board...more
On February 26, 2021, Vice Chancellor Kathaleen S. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery permanently enjoined a stockholder rights plan — or so-called “poison pill” — with a 5% trigger that The Williams Companies, Inc....more
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the efforts around the globe to contain its spread have resulted in dramatic business disruptions and economic turmoil, raising many new considerations for parties participating in proposed or...more
Market volatility arising from the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to increased hostile takeover activity and shareholder activism as some companies experience market valuations that they believe are not reflective of their...more
The turmoil in US equity markets created by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many companies facing depressed stock prices, leaving them vulnerable to unsolicited acquisition proposals or activist activity, which has led...more
In light of the precipitous decline in the stock market since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, public companies should consider whether their existing corporate governance structures enable them to...more
The evolving coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused profound worldwide human suffering, has also severely impacted global business and financial markets. Corporate boards of directors and management teams are...more
Tailored considerations for boards of directors and management in the current environment. Key Points: ..Hostile takeover activity and stockholder activism often correspond with or follow periods of extreme market...more
During the process of drafting and legislating the Companies Law 5759-1999, great emphasis was placed on the issues that arise in public companies with a controlling shareholder. In the 1990s, the vast majority of public...more
A record-setting year for M&A deal activity, 2015 also yielded several important legal decisions and highlighted significant trends that are likely to influence M&A market participants in 2016 and beyond. Increased...more
Market volatility, the recent decline in commodity prices, or in some circumstances a combination of these factors, has resulted in a significant decline in the trading prices of many Canadian public companies relative to...more
Readiness, a strong board and delivering good value are the best strategies to thwart activist investors say Latham & Watkins partners Cary Hyden, Paul Tosetti, Michele Johnson and Mark Gerstein in discussion with Allergan’s...more
Shareholder rights plans were developed more than 30 years ago to fend off opportunistic hostile offers and other abusive takeover transactions. Rights plans deter unauthorized stock accumulations by imposing substantial...more
The much-maligned 1980s tactic of “greenmail” appears to have made a comeback in 2013. “Greenmail” has generally been defined as the practice of purchasing enough shares in a company to threaten a takeover, and then using...more