This paper evaluates the primary mechanisms for changing management or obtaining control in publicly traded corporations with dispersed ownership. Specifically, we analyze and compare three mechanisms: (1) proxy fights (voting only); (2) takeover bids (buying shares only); and (3) a combination of proxy fights and takeover bids in which shareholders vote on acquisition offers. We first show how proxy fights unaccompanied by an acquisition offer suffer from substantial shortcomings that limit the use of such contests in practice. We then argue that combining voting with acquisition offers is superior not only to proxy fights alone but also to takeover bids alone. Finally, we show that, when acquisition offers are in the form of cash or the acquirer's existing securities, voting shareholders can infer from the pre-vote market trading which outcome would be best in light of all the available public information. Our analysis has implications for the ongoing debates in the US over poison pills and in Europe over the new EEC directive on takeovers.

Mergers and Acquisitions Basics: All You Need to Know provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of mergers and acquisitions. Key concepts discussed include M&As as change agents in the context of corporate restructuring; legal structures and strategies employed in corporate restructuring; takeover strategies and the impact on corporate governance; takeover defenses; and players who make mergers and acquisitions happen. The book also covers developing a business plan and the tools used to evaluate, display, and communicate information to key constituencies both inside and outside the corporation; the acquisition planning process; the negotiation, integration planning, and closing phases; financing transactions; and M&A post-merger integration.This book is written for buyers and sellers of businesses, financial analysts, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, operating managers, investment bankers, and portfolio managers. Others who may have an interest include bank lending officers, venture capitalists, government regulators, human resource managers, entrepreneurs, and board members. The book may also be used as a companion or supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, business strategy, management, governance, and entrepreneurship. - Describes a broad view of the mergers and acquisition process to illustrate agents' interactions - Simplifies without overgeneralizing - Bases conclusions on empirical evidence, not experience and opinion - Features a recent business case at the end of each chapter

This is the second edition of this highly regarded comparative overview of corporate law. It argues that the main function of corporate law is to address conflicts of interests and that, despite economic and social diversity, legal strategies employed across jurisdictions are surprisingly similar.

The standard approach to the legal foundations of corporate governance is based on the view that corporate law promotes separation of ownership and control by protecting non-controlling shareholders from expropriation. This book takes a broader perspective by showing that investor protection is a necessary, but not sufficient, legal condition for the efficient separation of ownership and control. Supporting the control powers of managers or controlling shareholders is as important as protecting investors from the abuse of these powers. Rethinking Corporate Governance reappraises the existing framework for the economic analysis of corporate law based on three categories of private benefits of control. Some of these benefits are not necessarily bad for corporate governance. The areas of law mainly affecting private benefits of control – including the distribution of corporate powers, self-dealing, and takeover regulation – are analyzed in five jurisdictions, namely the US, the UK, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Not only does this approach to corporate law explain separation of ownership and control better than just investor protection; it also suggests that the law can improve the efficiency of corporate governance by allowing non-controlling shareholders to be less powerful.

Hedge Fund Activism begins with a brief outline of the research literature and describes datasets on hedge fund activism.

Two strengths distinguish this textbook from others. One is its presentation of subjects in the contexts wherein they occur. The other is its use of current events. Other improvements have shortened and simplified chapters, increased the numbers and types of pedagogical supplements, and expanded the international appeal of examples.

Written by leading authorities, the Second Edition of A Practical Guide to SEC Proxy and Compensation Rules provides expert analysis and valuable tips and pointers on everything you need to know to master the proxy process and ensure compliance with the SEC's rules. You get comprehensive guidance on such essential issues as: Preparing the executive compensation tables and compensation committee report -- plus examples and the full text reports of seven companies -- Explanations of the FASB rules on accounting for stock options -- Discussions on the requirements necessary to ensure the tax deductibility of executive compensation under IRC Section 162(m) -- Descriptions of the disclosure requirements for a company seeking shareholder approval of certain employee benefit plans -- Analysis of institutional activism under the proxy rules -- And much more. Insightful analysis throughout this guide of how companies have responded to the SEC regulations and on the positions taken by the SEC will help you prepare day-to-day disclosures as well as long-range plans. Valuable appendixes contain SEC and DOL releases, rules and regulations.

Although some provisions of the Directive are obligatory for all Member States, two key provisions have been made optional: the non-frustration rule, which requires the board to obtain the prior authorization of the general meeting of shareholders before taking any action that could result in the frustration of the bid; and the breakthrough rule, restricting significant transfer and voting rights during the time allowed for acceptance of the bid. Other relevant legal issues covered in the course of the analysis include the following: A { the right of establishment as a right of legal persons; A { vertical vs.

This overview starts from the premise that corporate law across jurisdictions addresses the same three basic agency problems - the opportunism of: managers vis-a-vis shareholders; controlling shareholders vis-a-vis minority shareholders; and shareholdersvis-a-vis other corporate constituencies.