In today’s Financial Post, Barbara Shecter highlighted the use of modified shareholder rights plans (colloquially known as “poison pills”) as an emerging defensive tool against opportunistic shareholder activism in Canada. Traditionally, poison pills are used by boards of target companies as defensive tools to guard against unsolicited takeover bids. By expanding the typical definition of … Continue reading
Shareholder activism has been dubbed “the new M&A” in recognition of activists’ propensity to drive companies to pursue value-creating transactions. Last month, Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management took this trend to a new level when it teamed up with Quebec-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to orchestrate a hostile takeover bid for Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc. … Continue reading
