Kahn Swick & Foti represents institutional and individual clients in lawsuits regarding Mergers & Acquisitions and “Going Private” transactions. In such cases, shareholders are deprived of fair value when shares are bought by companies for below market valuations, or are provided insufficient disclosures concerning terms of the transaction. Our lawyers can help investors pursue appraisal rights and demand fair value.

SETTLED CASES

Helen Moore v. Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, et al. (Cleco Corporation Merger), No.  251,417 c/w Nos. 251,456; 251,515; 252,446; 252,458; and 252,459, (9th JDC, Louisiana). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of utility company. Settlement consisted of $37 million common fund, just one month from trial. Counsel also secured a landmark Louisiana appellate decision finding that merger-related challenges are direct, and not derivative, in nature.

In re Saba Software, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, Consol. Case No. 10697-VCN (Delaware Court of Chancery 2015). Member of Executive Committee. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of software company. Settlement consisted of $19.5 million common fund.

In re American Capital, Ltd. Shareholder Litigation, Case No. 422598-V (Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland 2016). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders against both the target board and senior management and an activist investor fund (as a controller) relating to a proposed merger of a publicly traded private equity company. Settlement consisted of $17.5 million common fund from the target’s board and the activist investor.

Kurt Ziegler, et al. v. GW Pharm., PLC, et al., No. 3:21-cv-01019-BAS-MSB (S.D. Cal). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for breach of federal securities laws relating to a proposed merger of pharmaceutical company. Settlement consisted of $7.75 million common fund.

Kenneth Riche, et al v. James C. Pappas, et al¸ C.A. No. 2018-0177 (Del. Ch). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders against the target board and activist investors relating to a proposed merger of a publicly traded geothermal company. Settlement consisted of $6.5 million common fund, which represented a significant 7.7% premium to the $84 million adjusted enterprise value of the merger to the non-defendants shareholders/class members.

Rice v. Genworth Financial Incorporated, et al., Consol. Case No. 3:17-cv-00059-REP (Eastern District of Virginia 2017). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for violation of Section 14(a) relating to a proposed merger of insurance company. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements.

Wojno v. FirstMerit Corp., et al., Case No. 5:16-cv-00461 (Northern District of Ohio 2016). Co-Lead Counsel. Class action for violation of Section 14(a) relating to a proposed merger of bank holding company. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements.

In re Adams Golf Shareholder Litigation, C.A. No. 7354-VCL (Del. Ch. 2012). Chair of Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of sporting goods companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements.

In re BTU International, Inc. Stockholders Litigation, Consol. C.A. No. 10310-CB (Delaware Court of Chancery 2014).  Co-Lead Counsel.  Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of electronics and solar goods companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements.  First known settlement to pass the exacting Trulia standards articulated by the Court of Chancery.

In re EnergySolutions, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, C.A. 8203-VCG (Del. Ch. 2014).  Plaintiff’s Co-Lead Counsel.  Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of nuclear energy related companies worth $1.1 billion ($375 million in proposed shareholder consideration). Settlement consisted of $0.40 price bump which increased the consideration to shareholders by more than 10% or approximately $38 million. Settlement also included over 20 pages of additional disclosures to proxy statement relating to process and pricing claims.

Hill v. Cohen, et al. (Summit Financial Services Group, Inc.), 2013 CA 017640 (15th Jud. Cir. Ct., Fla.). Co-lead counsel. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of a financial services company. Contingent and delayed aspects of the proposed merger consideration, worth several million dollars, were accelerated and paid to shareholders ahead of schedule and settlement involved several pages of additional disclosures were made to the proxy statement.

In re InSite Vision Inc. Consolidated Shareholder Litigation, Lead Case No. RG-15774540 (c/w Case No. RG-15777471).  Counsel for Plaintiffs. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of medical companies. Litigation was followed by a public bidding war that resulted in a $30 million increase in merger compensation.

In re Medtox Scientific, Inc. Shareholders Litigation, Court File No. 62-CV-12-5118 (Minn. Dist. Ct. 2013). Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel. Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of medical technology companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statement.

Heron v. International Rectifier Corporation, et al., Case No. BC556078 (Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles). Co-Lead Counsel.   Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of electronics companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements.

Sachs Investment Group v Sun Healthcare Group, Inc., et al. 30-2012-580354-CU-SL-CXC (Sup. Ct. of Cal., 2013). Plaintiffs’ Counsel.  Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of healthcare companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statement.

In re Susser Holdings Corp. Stockholders Litigation, C.A. 9613-VCG (Delaware Court of Chancery 2014). Co-Lead Counsel.  Class action for breach of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to a proposed merger of convenience store and gas station companies. Settlement consisted of additional material disclosures to proxy statements regarding hidden value of individual distribution rights in limited partnership.