This session looked at the current environment for unsolicited and hostile acquisition approaches, including both domestic and international corporate governance practices. 

George Casey, Global Managing Partner & Global M&A Practice Group Leader at Shearman & Sterling; Rebecca Runa Pinto-Noome, Partner at NautaDutilh; Alexandros Aldous, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Government Relations Officer at The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.; and Nick Withers, Senior Associate at Shearman & Sterling  discussed techniques for modeling responses, negotiation approaches, matching periods and topping bids, and proxy contest scenarios. Techniques and methods for assessing the strength of various shareholder rights plans and takeover defenses were...

This opening keynote session considered the current challenges Boards of Directors face including high target valuations, a shareholder environment that rewards acquisitive companies, accumulating cash reserves, and a long-running economic expansion with an unclear outlook. 

The participants Rocky Daehler, Director, Corporate Development at Motorola Solutions; James Harris, Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google; and Andrey Galiuk, Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Dover Corporation drilled into the unique considerations associated with acquisitions and minority investments where the target value is largely in future growth, new technology, intellectual property including in-process R&D, intangible assets, and human capital including founders and management teams.