Helping sellers navigate the uncertain horizon of post-closing indemnification claims is a crucial part of a deal lawyer’s job on the sell-side of any M&A transaction. According to a relatively recent study by Shareholder Representative Services (the “2013 SRS Study”), approximately 67% of private M&A transactions have “material post-closing issues.”[1]  While post-closing liability exposure is industry and deal specific, the empirical data presented by the 2013 SRS Study provides crucial insight for the deal lawyer tasked with helping her client navigate these uncertain waters. A copy of the full 2013 SRS Study can be found here.

2013 SRS Study Sample

The 2013 SRS Study is based upon claims made against escrow holdback funds for 420 private-target acquisitions that closed between 2007 and 2013. There were approximately 700 such claims made in connection with the analyzed acquisitions. Each of these claims was sorted by its type and size.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. To that end, two key graphics contained in the 2013 SRS Study are set forth below that highlight several of the study’s insights.

Breakdown of Claims in General

As the graphic above shows, roughly 400 of the 700 post-closing claims within the 2013 SRS Study Sample were related to alleged breaches of representations and warranties. The graphic below illustrates the representations and warranties that are most frequently the subjects of indemnification claims.

Breakdown of R&W Claims

This chart is the most valuable chart in the entire 2013 SRS Study as it provides a solid basis for clear counsel to sell-side clients in the M&A context. It also shows the particular representations and warranties that should be focused upon prior to closing to minimize post-closing claims.

Conclusion

The 2013 SRS Study enables the M&A lawyer to take the abstract notion of post-closing liability exposure and convert it into a discussion of empirical data. Again, while post-closing liability exposure is industry and deal specific, the 2013 SRS Study provides helpful market data that can help inform clients and prevent post-closing claims.

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[1] https://www.srsacquiom.com/files/2013escrowstudy.pdf