Fairness Guidelines and Issues

Book excerpt: Overview Any corporate transaction involving an existing or potential conflict of interest may become the subject of litigation initiated by minority shareholders.1 In such case, directors may be called upon to prove that all aspects of the transaction were fair to the corporation and its shareholders. Directors may, however, be able to shift this burden of proof away from themselves and to the minority shareholders/plaintiffs if they have taken certain steps to ensure the fairness of the transaction.2 One important step is the establishment and use of a properly functioning Special Committee comprised of independent and disinterested Board members empowered to negotiate the transaction.3