When family business owners are determined to force another owner out of the business, they tend to get sneaky and play loose with the rules –to the point that they end up jeopardizing the business itself. On this episode of Divided Dynasties, Mark Briol and Scott Benson delve into a specific case, McGrath v. MICO, to share the telltale signs...Read More

Shareholder agreements are common among owners of closely held corporations or LLCs. These agreements are generally enforceable under Minnesota law.[1] Frequently, such agreements include provisions governing the transfer of ownership interests. The interaction of certain combinations of common provisions governing the transfer of ownership interests can create unfortunate incentives that minority shareholder employees should be...Read More

You own some shares of a business, but you don’t work there and you’re not on the board of directors. The CEO just sent a letter regretfully informing you and the other owners that there won’t be any dividends this year. But you know from one of his neighbors that the CEO just started a...Read More

“Shareholder oppression” is action by the directors or controlling shareholders of a closely held corporation [1] that is unfairly prejudicial to a minority shareholder. Oppression can take many forms. Three examples – termination of a shareholder employee, financial freeze out, and exclusion from corporate affairs – are described here, but other types of oppression may also arise,...Read More

In most elections, the winners are chosen by majority or plurality vote. Minority shareholders in Minnesota corporations should know their rights to make an exception to this rule.Read More