Florida Appeals Court Rules Against Shareholder in Fraud Case
On March 21st, 2018, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals ruled against a minority shareholder in an appraisal rights case. In Shiva Stein v. BBC Capital Corp, et al, the plaintiff alleged that her shareholder rights were violated under Florida state law following the merger of two financial services companies.
In this article, our top-rated Miami shareholder dispute lawyers provide a brief overview of the issues that were at stake in this case. In addition, we highlight one of the most important things that minority shareholders need to know about their legal rights in Florida.
Case Overview: Shiva Stein v. BBC Capital Corp, et al
Background
The plaintiff in this case was a minority shareholder in BBX Capital Corporation, a financial services company that is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Another Fort Lauderdale-based financial services company, BFC Financial Corporation, already owned 81 percent of the outstanding shares of BBX Capital. A merger was initiated, in which BFC Financial sought to obtain the remaining 19 percent of BBX Capital.
The Dispute
Under the deal that was eventually approved, BBX Capital shareholders, including the plaintiff in this case, were offered a choice. They could accept cash in exchange for their shares, shares in BFC Financial, or some combination of both.
The plaintiff filed a complaint alleging that her shares in BBX Capital were being substantially undervalued in this deal. She argued that the Board at BBX Capital breached its fiduciary duty to its minority shareholders because it failed to obtain a fair market price. However, notably, the plaintiff in this case declined an independent appraisal under Florida state statutes (607.1302).
The Decision
In its decision, the Fourth District Court of Appeals focused on the language of the 607.1302. Under this section of Florida law, minority shareholders who dissent from a major transaction (such as a merger) must seek a remedy by getting an independent appraisal of their shares. The only time that minority shareholders can step outside of the bounds of this statute is when they can prove that the underlying corporate action involves fraud or a serious misrepresentation.
Appraisal as a Remedy: Fraud is Difficult to Prove
For the most part, appraisal rights are the exclusive remedy that minority shareholders have to ensure that they are getting a fair price for their shares when a merger or acquisition occurs. Unless there is strong evidence that fraud has occurred, Florida courts are unlikely to allow a minority shareholder to bring legal action to stop a larger deal. If you are a minority shareholder, and you believe you are not getting fair value in a share-swap or cash exchange, you need to know how to effectively use your appraisal rights. An attorney can help.
Contact Our South Florida Minority Shareholder Rights Lawyers Today
At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our shareholder dispute lawyers are standing by, ready to help you with your case. For a free case review, please contact our legal team now. We have offices in Miami and West Palm Beach, and we serve minority shareholders all around South Florida, including in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Miami Lakes, and Miramar.
Resources:
edca.4dca.org/DCADocs/2016/4309/164309_1257_03212018_09345647_i.pdf
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0600-0699/0607/Sections/0607.1302.html
