Investment Fund Law Blog
Written by Jonathan J. Russo and Meredith Ervine
At first glance, Southern Peru Copper Corporation (Southern Peru) and its special committee (Committee) appeared to do what they were supposed to do when considering a controlling stockholder transaction—form a special committee of disinterested, sophisticated directors, engage separate, independent financial and legal advisors, request a fairness opinion and obtain super-majority stockholder approval. So why did the Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery (Court) hold that the transaction was unfair and award $1.3 billion in damages—one of the largest derivative monetary awards in the Court’s history? This Advisory discusses In re Southern Peru Copper Corporation Shareholder Derivative Litigation and suggests specific practices that a special committee should consider when evaluating a controlling stockholder transaction.