Delaware Business Litigation Report

Court of Chancery Explains When Corporate Overpayment Claims Require Demand Futility

Chester County Employees’ Retirement Fund v. New Residential Investment Corp., C.A. 11058-VCMR (October 7, 2016)

The issuance of additional stock in exchange for less than fair value typically is a harm falling on the company, and hence gives rise to a derivative claim.  But, such a claim might be dual natured – partially direct and partially derivative – when a controlling stockholder has been benefited, or where the board is not independent.  The question for dual-natured claims is whether they remain subject to the usual Rule 23.1 test for derivative claims: is pre-suit demand on the board excused?  Here, Vice Chancellor Montgomery-Reeves adopts the view endorsed by Vice Chancellor Laster in In re El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. Derivative Litigation, 132 A.3d 67, 75, 105 (Del. Ch. 2015), and applies the Rule 23.1 test to dual-natured corporate overpayment claims.  Had the issue been whether the claims were extinguished by a merger, then the Court would have focused on the direct nature of the claims for standing purposes.

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