Block & Leviton LLP Investigates Sigma-Aldrich Corporation for Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty in Connection with Its Merger with Merck KGaA

BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Block & Leviton LLP (www.blockesq.com), a Boston-based law firm representing investors nationwide, has commenced an investigation into possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation ("Sigma-Aldrich" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SIAL) concerning its proposed merger with Merck KGaA ("Merck").

Sigma-Aldrich stockholders will receive only $140 for each Sigma-Aldrich share held.  This represents a premium of barely 34% of the Company's previous closing price, far below recent premiums for pharmaceutical companies.  For example, when Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca plc combined to purchase Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a 2012 transaction, it tendered a premium of more than 101% to the unaffected share price. 

Shares of the Company had increased over 23% in just less than a year before the proposed transaction, showing that the purported premium would likely have been eclipsed in short order.  The total transaction value of the merger is estimated at $17 billion.  The proposed transaction is expected to close in mid-2015, assuming it achieves regulatory and shareholder approval.

Block & Leviton's investigation seeks to determine, among other things, whether Sigma-Aldrich's Directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to maximize shareholder value in the proposed merger with Merck and the fairness of the process by which they considered and approved the transaction.  The firm is also investigating whether or not Merck's officers and board members aided and abetted such breaches of fiduciary duty.

If you are a shareholder of Sigma-Aldrich and have questions about your legal rights, or if you have information relevant to this investigation, please contact attorney Steven P. Harte, at (617) 398-5600 or email him at [email protected]. 

Block & Leviton is a Boston-based law firm representing investors nationwide for violations of securities laws.  The firm's lawyers have collectively been prosecuting securities cases on behalf of investors for over 70 years.  This notice may constitute attorney advertising.

Contact:

BLOCK & LEVITON LLP

Steven P. Harte, Esq.

[email protected]

(617) 398-5600

SOURCE Block & Leviton LLP

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