In what seems like one of the speediest transaction processes ever for a deal of its size, Twitter agreed on April 25, 2022 to be acquired by Elon Musk for $54.20 per share or about $44 billion. It all started with Musk disclosing on April 4 that he had taken a 9.2% stake in Twitter,
COVID-19
Course Correction: Why “Ordinary Course” Covenants in Acquisition Agreements Should be Drafted Carefully
Should a buyer be allowed to walk away from an acquisition if an extraordinary event occurs between signing and closing that forces the target company to take emergency remedial measures outside its ordinary course, even if consistent with industry practice under the circumstances? This became a pressing issue during the early months of the COVID-19…
Relief for Pre-Verified Accredited Investors May Encourage Rule 506(c) Offerings
For the second time in nine days, I recently drove ten hours round-trip to drop my son off at school for spring semester. The first time around, he ended up returning home with me the next day for unexpected oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth after completing his mandatory one-day COVID quarantine at school. …
The Upshot of Down Rounds
The impact of the Coronavirus and COVID-19 on venture capital investment will likely be similar to what we saw in the aftermath of the 2008 recession and the 2001 dot-com meltdown. VC investors will redirect their attention away from sourcing new deals and toward managing their existing portfolios, trying to determine which should survive and…
COVID-19 Capital Needs Addressed by Temporary Relaxation of Title III Crowdfunding Rules
Title III crowdfunding may be an attractive capital raising alternative during the current Coronavirus pandemic because it allows companies to use the internet to solicit potential investors and not be restricted to accredited investors. But some of the requirements under Regulation Crowdfunding may diminish its utility for issuers with urgent capital needs as a result…
Restoring Incentives of Underwater Stock Options
COVID-19 induced declines in private and public company valuations have left many employee stock options “underwater” or “out-of-the-money”, i.e., exercise prices exceeding fair market value. This is a problem for employees and companies alike. Underwater options no longer serve their retention and incentivization objective, but nevertheless use up finite authorized shares and count against authorized…
Shareholder Meetings in the Age of COVID-19
Among the many challenges companies are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic is how to conduct their shareholder meetings. Current social distancing requirements are effectively forcing companies to choose between postponing meetings and conducting them virtually. This requires careful attention to state executive orders, the relevant corporate statute, the company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as…
No Satisfaction: Absence of Affiliation Rule Waiver Leaves Most Venture-Backed Companies Ineligible for Paycheck Protection Plan Loans
Venture-backed companies did not receive the relief they had hoped for this past Friday, April 3rd, when the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued affiliation rule guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The guidance largely affirms existing SBA regulations as they previously…
COVID-19 SEC Filing Relief and Disclosure Guidance
Public companies stressing over how to meet filing deadlines during the COVID-19 crisis and what to say about the pandemic’s impact just received a filing reprieve and disclosure guidance from the SEC. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order on March 25, 2020 conditionally extending the deadlines for certain public company filings under the…