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Asset Management
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May 09, 2024
Concord Won't Increase 'Final' $1.5B Bid For Rival Hipgnosis
Concord Chorus Ltd. said Thursday that it has ruled out raising its "final" all-cash offer of $1.25 per share for rival music rights company Hipgnosis Songs, which leaves only an improved bid by private equity firm Blackstone in the running to buy it.
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May 08, 2024
Mayer Brown, Latham Steer Proficient Auto's $215M IPO
Proficient Auto Logistics Inc. on Wednesday priced a $215 million initial public offering within its range, represented by Mayer Brown LLP and underwriters' counsel Latham & Watkins LLP, in an IPO that will help the specialized freight company combine five logistics businesses into one publicly traded entity.
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May 08, 2024
Hawaii Utility Seeks Exit From Shareholder Suit Over Maui Fire
Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. has asked a California federal judge to toss an investor suit over a downturn in the company's stock price after a deadly fire broke out on Maui, saying it did not mislead investors about efforts to mitigate fire risk or completely outrule the risk of fire.
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May 08, 2024
DLA Piper, Cooley Lead Software Firm Silvaco's $114M IPO
Electronic design automation software company Silvaco Group Inc. on Wednesday priced an $114 million initial public offering at the top of its range, represented by DLA Piper and underwriters' counsel Cooley LLP.
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May 08, 2024
ESOP Trustee Can't Ax Suit Claiming $60M Inflated Stock Deal
A Michigan federal judge left most of a suit intact Wednesday alleging the trustee of a steel company's employee stock ownership plan allowed it to buy $60 million in company stock at an inflated price, ruling that the worker behind the suit backed his claims with enough detail.
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May 08, 2024
Digitex Founder Pleads Guilty To Bank Secrecy Act Violation
The founder of Digitex Futures Exchange has pled guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by refusing to implement policies designed to prevent money laundering on his cryptocurrency futures platform.
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May 08, 2024
Sens. Call For Revamp Of SEC's Nixed Stock Buyback Rules
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should "promptly" reissue disclosure rules vacated by the Fifth Circuit last year so that companies are required to publicly disclose more information on their share repurchase plans, a bipartisan pair of U.S. senators told the agency's leader on Monday.
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May 08, 2024
FTX Says Full Recovery Coming Based On 2022 Crypto Price
Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX Trading Ltd. has claimed its proposed Chapter 11 plan would be able to pay creditors in full with a $13 billion distribution that exceeds the estimated allowable $11.2 billion in claims, but the payout is based on the value of cryptocurrency in November 2022, when the exchange filed for bankruptcy protection.
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May 08, 2024
Truth Social Backer's Insider Trading Alibi In Jury's Hands
A Manhattan federal jury weighed charges Wednesday against a Florida investor accused of fueling a $23 million insider trading scheme that exploited confidential plans to take Truth Social public, after the defense argued it was someone else who tipped speculators.
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May 08, 2024
Prison Officer Gets 2 Years For Bribes Linked To Rajaratnam
A former federal corrections officer in Massachusetts who accepted bribes and a loan from a billionaire inmate, reportedly the convicted insider trader Raj Rajaratnam, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for engaging in what a Boston federal judge called "corruption of the most dangerous sort."
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May 08, 2024
Japanese Crypto Exchange Coincheck Eyes US Listing In '24
Simpson Thacher-led Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Group BV plans to complete a long-awaited merger with a special-purpose acquisition company by the year's second or third quarter, a combination that would make it the second U.S.-listed crypto venue.
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May 08, 2024
Gibson Dunn Adds Ex-Wachtell, Paul Weiss Attys As Partners
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP has added a former Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz corporate attorney and a former Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP lawyer who specializes in liability management as partners in New York, the firm has announced.
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May 07, 2024
Apple's $490M Investor Deal Needs 'A Little Bit More Work'
A California federal judge refused Tuesday to preliminarily approve Apple's $490 million deal to end investors' class action alleging they were misled about iPhone sales in China, saying that while key terms are "satisfactory," the plan needs "a little bit more work," like fixing a "convoluted" notice to investors.
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May 07, 2024
Astec Inks $13.7M Investor Deal Over Wood Pellet Plant Woes
An investor in manufacturer Astec Industries Inc. has asked a Tennessee federal judge for an initial green light on a $13.7 million deal to end claims the company misrepresented business prospects for its wood pellet plants.
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May 07, 2024
Canopy Growth Expands In US With Wana, Jetty Buys
Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth announced Tuesday that its U.S. division has exercised options to acquire two American companies as part of its goal to establish a domestic "brand-focused powerhouse" — acquisitions for which Canopy spent nearly $370 million.
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May 07, 2024
FINRA Fines Broker M1 Over Short Sale Identification Errors
Financial services provider M1 Finance has agreed to pay $400,000 to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to settle claims that it failed to correctly identify 12 million short sales, inaccurately marking those orders as "long."
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May 07, 2024
NYC Eatery Asks 2nd Circ. To Undo Revival Of Workers' Suit
A New York City restaurant operator urged the Second Circuit Tuesday to reject a lower court finding that its workers' federal wage claims may be cut from their class action but can also be reinstated if the appeals court were to vacate their state wage claims, insisting the decision is unfair.
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May 07, 2024
Everton Investors Bemoan Soccer Team Sale Amid Fraud Suit
The Everton FC Shareholders Association wants to slam the brakes on the "farce" sale of its Premier League soccer team to private equity firm 777 Partners LLC, arguing they are not qualified owners, a demand that comes as the firm faces allegations of fraud.
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May 07, 2024
Ex-Tugboat CEO Can't Reinstate $75M Defamation Verdict
A Washington state appeals panel won't let the former CEO of boating company Harley Marine Services Inc. reinstate a $75 million defamation verdict against his former business partners, finding that the comments that formed the basis for the verdict are covered under the state's "absolute" litigation privilege.
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May 07, 2024
6th Circ. Considers Rebooting Crypto Reporting Challenge
Sixth Circuit judges seemed unsure of whether a group of cryptocurrency users can challenge a pending mandate to report large crypto transactions, as the judges grappled Tuesday with whether the plaintiffs have shown they are harmed by the forthcoming rule and whether the challenge is premature.
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May 07, 2024
DOL Official Says Expect Pension De-Risking Report Soon
The U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits chief said Tuesday the agency expects to submit a report to Congress shortly on so-called pension risk transfers, which involve the exchange of defined benefit pension plan liabilities for annuity insurance contracts.
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May 07, 2024
Fenwick-Led Cloud Security Co. Raises $1B At $12B Valuation
New York-headquartered cloud security company Wiz, advised by Fenwick & West LLP, announced on Tuesday that it hit a $12 billion valuation after securing $1 billion in its latest fundraising round.
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May 06, 2024
Coinbase Operates As Unregistered Broker, Investors Say
Coinbase and its CEO have been hit with a proposed class action in California federal court alleging the crypto exchange "has been a part of a shadowy crypto ecosystem operating just outside of the law since formed over 10 years ago."
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May 06, 2024
2nd Circ. Hints At Reviving Suit Against 'Insider' Hedge Fund
The Second Circuit on Monday appeared ready to revive a derivative lawsuit against a hedge fund alleged to have profited from its status as a corporate insider of 1-800-Flowers, with a majority of the court casting doubt on the fund's argument that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision defeats the case on standing.
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May 06, 2024
Unclaimed Property Class Action Against Pa. Treasurer Axed
A Pennsylvania federal judge has tossed a potential class action challenging the constitutionality of the state's unclaimed property law, finding that the state treasurer doesn't have to pay interest on property that was otherwise abandoned.
Expert Analysis
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3 Areas Of Focus In Congressional Crosshairs This Year
Companies must prepare for Congress to build on its 2023 oversight priorities this year, continuing its vigorous inquiries into Chinese company-related investments, workplace safety and labor relations issues, and generative artificial intelligence, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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ERISA Litigation Faces New Frontiers In 2024
As plaintiffs firms explore novel theories for recovery and the Department of Labor attempts to broaden the definition of an investment advice fiduciary, 2024 could see new types of Employee Retirement Income Security Act litigation after just 100 class actions were filed last year, say attorneys at Groom Law.
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Del. Ruling Guides On Advance Notice Bylaw Amendments
The Delaware Chancery's Court's recent denial of investment fund Paragon Technologies' injunction motion against Ocean Power Technologies underscores the importance of carefully crafting and enforcing corporate advance notice bylaw amendments, especially in light of universal proxy rules, say attorneys at Venable.
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Series
Baking Bread Makes Me A Better Lawyer
After many years practicing law, and a few years baking bread, I have learned that there are a few keys to success in both endeavors, including the assembly of a nourishing and resilient culture, and the ability to learn from failure and exercise patience, says Rick Robinson at Reed Smith.
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Federal Courts And AI Standing Orders: Safety Or Overkill?
Several district court judges have issued standing orders regulating the use of artificial intelligence in their courts, but courts should consider following ordinary notice and comment procedures before implementing sweeping mandates that could be unnecessarily burdensome and counterproductive, say attorneys at Curtis.
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7 E-Discovery Predictions For 2024 And Beyond
The legal and technical issues of e-discovery now affect virtually every lawsuit, and in the year to come, practitioners can expect practices and policies to evolve in a number of ways, from the expanded use of relevancy redactions to mandated information security provisions in protective orders, say attorneys at Littler.
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Securities Class Actions Show No Signs of Slowing In 2024
Plaintiffs asserted securities class actions at elevated levels in 2023 — a sign that filings will remain high in the year ahead — as they switched gears to target companies that allegedly have failed to anticipate supply chain disruptions, persistent inflation, rising interest rates and other macroeconomic headwinds, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Justice O'Connor Was Architect of ERISA's Lasting Success
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor laid the foundations of Employee Retirement Income Security Act jurisprudence, defining a default standard of review, preemption rules and the act's interplay with employment law, through opinions that are still instructive as ERISA approaches its 50th anniversary, says José Jara at Fox Rothschild.
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ESG Concerns Can No Longer Be Ignored In 2024
While the long wait for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ESG rule continues, government attention to regulations, increased litigation efforts and shareholder resolutions seeking transparency highlight the importance of placing an emphasis on ESG considerations, say attorneys at Wollmuth Maher.
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Opinion
Conflicts Abound When Activist Short-Sellers Publish Reports
The self-serving relationship between activist short-sellers and plaintiff-side litigators is conflict-ridden and hinders the fact finder's impartiality when a short report forms the basis for lead plaintiffs' allegations, say Nessim Mezrahi and Stephen Sigrist at SAR.
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5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2024
Over the next year and beyond, litigation funding will continue to evolve in ways that affect attorneys and the larger litigation landscape, from the growth of a secondary market for funded claims, to rising interest rates restricting the availability of capital, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
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Bank-Fintech Partnerships Can Thrive Despite A Tough 2023
Many banking-as-a-service players experienced regulatory enforcement activities in 2023, including consent orders and more targeted, detailed guidance aimed at bank-fintech partnerships, and while it seems this trend will continue in 2024, savvy banks can use the turmoil of last year as a guide for how to better manage the risks inherent in partnerships, says Justin Steffen at Barack Ferrazzano.
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5 Securities Litigation Issues To Watch In 2024
There is yet another exciting year ahead for securities litigation, starting with the U.S. Supreme Court hearing argument next week in a case presenting a key securities class action question that has eluded review for the last eight years, say attorneys at Willkie.
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Series
ESG Around The World: South Africa
While South Africa has yet to mandate the reporting of nonfinancial and environmental, social, and corporate governance issues, policy documents and recent legislative developments are likely to have a material impact in the country's transition to a low-carbon economy and in meeting its international obligations, say Glynn Kent at Eversheds Sutherland.
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Series
Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4
As 2023 came to an end, we continued to see developments in California that are certain to have an impact on the financial services industry in 2024, including the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's request for comments on the state's new digital asset law and the state's continued enforcement actions against debt collectors, say Jennifer Olivestone and Juan Azel at Winston & Strawn.