A South African trial court has found that an investor who owned shares of a parent company which sold off its operating subsidiary is entitled to appraisal rights. The case concerns the appraisal rights of an activist investor in the company KWV, which had an operating subsidiary that owned liquor assets. According to a press account, the original merger was structured as a purchase of the KWV operating subsidiary, leaving the holding company with some property, art and cash. The investor demanded appraisal, arguing that the transaction for ~13 South African Rand per share undervalued his shares in the holding company – which he pegged as worth significantly more, and which a press account says the acquirer valued at ~25 South African Rand. As the proceedings progressed, the investor’s entitlement to appraisal was challenged on the basis that the acquirer did not purchase the holding company – just the operating subsidiary. The South African court rejected this argument, finding that the investor has appraisal rights and thus may continue his appraisal claim.

*** Lowenstein Sandler LLP does not practice in South Africa and does not provide advice on South African law. The content of this post is derived from press accounts about the case.