Minority Oppression and Shareholder Squeezeouts

Legal actions taken under state statutes by minority shareholders against majority interests can pose one of the most challenging and complex valuation assignments. The professionals at HSSK have served as experts in a number of such actions. Through this expertise, we offer a breadth of knowledge not only from our training as appraisers, but also from addressing a myriad of fact and legal situations and issues unique to each action.

Under most circumstances, the standard of Fair Value must be used in arriving at an opinion under dissenting shareholder lawsuits, including "sqeezeout" disputes. We work closely with legal counsel in interpreting statutes and court precedents which may vary from state to state and may have an effect on critical factors such as the effective date of the appraisal and if discounts for Lack of Marketability or Control will apply.

In addition to disputes over value, shareholder actions can also be created by disagreements in accounting techniques and application of accounting principles. This is often the case in a failed merger, acquisition, or similar corporate action. HSSK's partners include some of the most astute accounting professionals in the industry with many years of experience in litigated matters relating to the proper accounting of business performance.