Squeeze-out effect
The squeeze-out effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a minority shareholder’s stake in a company’s shares is either bought out or diluted due to a corporate action taken by a majority shareholder. This corporate action can take the form of a takeover, issuing new shares, or a merger. The minority shareholder can consequently be made effectively irrelevant within the company. When a squeeze out occurs, it is important to be aware of the shareholder’s rights and how such an action can be legally challenged.
To better understand squeeze-out effects, it is important to first understand what a majority shareholder is in a company. A majority shareholder is a shareholder that owns more than 50% of the voting rights in a company. The majority shareholder therefore has the power to make decisions about the company and its action that can potentially affect minority shareholders. It is also important to understand what dilution means in this context. Diluting a shareholding means that the percentage of each shareholder’s ownership is reduced due to the addition of new shares.
The squeeze-out effect can be illustrated by the following example. Suppose a company is owned by one majority shareholder who owns 70% of the shares and three minority shareholders who each own a 10% share of the company. If the majority shareholder decides to issue new shares to a fourth minority shareholder, the original three minority shareholders’ shares will be diluted and they will each now only own 7.50% of the company. This is an example of a squeeze-out effect.
In some countries, certain laws are in place to help minimize the squeeze-out effect. In the United States, for example, a shareholder who has had their shares diluted due to a corporate action such as a takeover or a merger, is typically entitled to receive the same per share consideration as the majority shareholder in proportion to their holding’s value. As a result, it is important that shareholders in companies understand their rights in the event of a squeeze-out, in order to ensure that they receive an equitable settlement from the majority shareholder.
It is important to note that the squeeze-out effect is not illegal in most countries, including the United States. In fact, it can be an advantageous process for a company, as it can provide a large majority shareholder with greater control over their company without having to go through a time consuming and expensive takeover process. However, it is important to remain mindful of the effect that such a corporate action can have on minority shareholders, and the legal challenges that may arise as a result.
In conclusion, the squeeze-out effect is a process by which a majority shareholder can buy out or dilute a minority shareholder’s stake in a company. This corporate action can have a drastic effect on the minority shareholder’s holdings, and it is important to be aware of their rights if such an action is taken. Learning about the squeeze-out effect can be beneficial for investors and shareholders, as it can give them an understanding of the potential risks involved and provide them with the knowledge of what legal courses of action to take if their stake is diluted.