Mergers & Acquisitions

Amid ongoing growth in global M&A, buyers evaluating cross-border opportunities need to weigh many issues. Mintz M&A and antitrust attorneys look at considerations for European companies and private equity funds seeking targets in the United States, including US deal structures, antitrust regulations, and deal-reporting requirements.

Read Week 1 of Mintz’s Sell-Side Series, Pre-Planning: Developing Your Goals and Defining Your Game Plan, for tips on setting goals for an eventual sale, building an external and internal team, managing employee relationships, and getting organized.

In the world of Mergers and Acquisitions (“M&A”), both buyers and sellers are placing greater emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) credentials. 

This alert discusses the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in Manti Holdings v. Authentix Acquisition Co. that upheld the enforceability of an advance waiver of statutory appraisal rights by common stockholders.

This advisory discusses how courts could interpret common terms in merger agreements, including material adverse change (MAC), material adverse event (MAE), and force majeure clauses and ordinary course of business covenants, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the summer, we wrote about why health care companies may want to consider buying assets out of bankruptcy, taking advantage of the Bankruptcy Code Section 363 sale process (a "363 Sale”). We are back with our second post, to provide more detail to the process and discuss some pros and cons of 363 Sales.

As a refresher, a 363 Sale couples a flexible and fast process with ample liability protection for willing buyers. The primary benefit of a 363 Sale is that a buyer can acquire the debtor’s assets free and clear of virtually all liens, claims, and interests burdening the assets and the debtor. And when Section 363 is coupled with the “assumption and assignment” provisions of Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, a debtor is able to assign most contracts or leases that a buyer may wish to purchase, including contracts with ironclad anti-assignment language, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. When a target is experiencing severe financial distress, the benefit of acquiring assets “free and clear” is extraordinarily valuable.

Although health care may be well positioned to weather an economic downturn as an industry, certain sectors, including ambulatory surgery, vision, dermatology, dental, and other physician practices will bear the brunt of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and patients delaying non-emergency care. While the onset of COVID-19 has delayed or derailed many transactions, strategic buyers should consider all of the different transaction tools available them to help maximize value and successfully get to closing. For knowledgeable investors and strategic buyers, now is the time to position yourself to acquire valuable health care assets at steep discounts.

For those unfamiliar with 363 Sales, a 363 Sale couples a flexible and fast process with ample liability protection for willing buyers. The primary benefit to a 363 Sale is that a buyer can acquire the debtor’s assets free and clear of virtually all liens, claims and encumbrances burdening the assets and the debtor. When a target is experiencing severe financial distress, the benefit of acquiring assets “free and clear of all liens” is extraordinarily valuable.

This advisory discusses SEC’s amendments to the financial disclosure requirements for business acquisitions and dispositions by reporting companies and IPO candidates.

The Mintz and Mergermarket report on recent M&A activity in the life sciences sector examines deal drivers and companies’ post-closing integration experiences.

This article discusses updated documentation and timing for the Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program and certain considerations for companies considering borrowing under the program.

This article discusses the recent revisions to the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program; borrower considerations regarding eligibility and access to the program; implications of certain covenants and restrictions; and considerations under existing debt documents.

Read about considerations for drafting material adverse change clauses in mergers & acquisitions in light of uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As parties to merger or acquisition agreements carefully review their agreements to see what, if any, impacts the COVID-19 pandemic may have, the recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Newmont Mining Corp. v. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. provides meaningful guidance for the interpretation of Material Adverse Effect (“MAE”) provisions in agreements governed by New York law.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to have profound effects on the U.S. and global economies. Investor concerns about the impact of COVID-19 and government-imposed restrictions on individuals and businesses have led to unprecedented market volatility. Further material volatility is anticipated. In this environment, publicly traded companies may want to evaluate the adequacy of their corporate defenses to protect their stockholders from such predatory activities.