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Mr. C

04/01/26 11:47 AM

#59336 RE: porty #59335

That same line was in last year’s and Freddie has other energy interests like Fairwood Nuclear.

People are reading much too deep into this document. It’s going to be an 8-K one day that gives us news, not a 10-K
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dinogreeves

04/01/26 1:47 PM

#59339 RE: porty #59335

Yes, the same individual acting as the CEO of both a publicly traded shell company (such as a SPAC) and the private company merging into it faces a significant conflict of interest. This scenario is often referred to as being on "both sides of the deal".
www.skadden.com
www.skadden.com
+3
Such a situation creates conflicting fiduciary duties, as the CEO has a responsibility to maximize value for the shell company's public shareholders while also potentially seeking the best outcome for themselves as the owner/executive of the private entity.
www.mccarter.com
www.mccarter.com
+1
Key Conflict of Interest Aspects:
Valuation Tension: The CEO has a personal incentive to set a high valuation for the private company (merging entity) to benefit themselves, which may be detrimental to the public shell company shareholders.
Self-Dealing Risks: When a CEO holds a controlling interest in both entities, they may be incentivized to approve a deal that benefits them personally at the expense of minority shareholders.
"Holding the Deal Hostage": The CEO may have personal motivations (e.g., compensation, continued employment) that do not align with all shareholders, potentially causing them to negotiate favorable side agreements.
Fiduciary Duty Issues: Courts, particularly in Delaware, emphasize that directors and officers have duties of loyalty and care. A CEO on both sides might fail to "squeeze the last drop of the lemon" for shareholders if it contradicts their own interests.
ir.lawnet.fordham.edu
ir.lawnet.fordham.edu
+5
How Risks are Mitigated:
To manage this, the transaction often requires:
A Special Committee: A committee of independent directors is usually formed to negotiate the merger terms, insulating the deal from the conflicted CEO.
Transparency: Full disclosure of all side deals, compensation changes, and relationships to all shareholders.
"Entire Fairness" Test: In lawsuits, courts may apply the "entire fairness" standard, placing the burden on the interested party to prove the transaction was fair in both process and price.
www.hunton.com
www.hunton.