The Cornerstone Report finds that despite concerns over “the subjectivity of DCF models,” the methodology remains the primary tool for valuing targets in a Delaware appraisal. Petitioners continue to “overwhelmingly” rely on DCF analyses (94% of the cases) while occasionally also providing a comparables analysis (35% of the cases). Respondents continue to rely on DCF
The Cornerstone Report provides several data points concerning the frequency of court awards above merger price in appraisal actions as well as the size of the premiums and distinctions between results involving public and private companies. Between 2006 and 2018, Cornerstone reports 34 appraisal cases that went to trial; 16 resulted in awards above deal
On Friday, Vice Chancellor Glasscock issued his ruling in the AOL appraisal case. The court first set out to determine whether the merger transaction was “Dell Compliant,” which the Court defined to be “[w]here information necessary for participants in the market to make a bid is widely disseminated, and where the terms of the transaction
2017 was an active year in appraisal, with a number of anticipated decisions – including the recent Dell, DFC Global, and PetSmart opinions. 2018 looks to be filled with further developments. A trio of Law360 articles have highlighted the robust appraisal activity of 2017 – and suggested some cases to watch in 2018.
On July 8, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued its opinion in In re Appraisal of DFC Global Corp. A financial buyer, Lone Star Fund VIII, acquired DFC Corporation in June 2014 for $9.50 per share in an all-cash deal. Using a combination of a discounted cash flow analysis, comparable companies analysis, and the
The so-called market-out exception precludes appraisal where the target’s stock trades in a highly liquid market. In other words, appraisal is normally available to shareholders except, as the rationale goes, where the M&A target’s stock trades in such a liquid, highly efficient market that its stock price naturally reflects its fair value, and any