LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerson Poynter LLP, with offices in Little Rock, Arkansas and Houston, Texas, announced today that it has launched an investigation concerning potential legal claims against the Board of Directors of Nalco Holdings Company ("Nalco Holdings" or "NLC") related to the merger of Nalco Holdings with Ecolab, Inc.
The proposed merger agreement involves a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $5.4 billion. Under the proposed buyout, Nalco Holdings shareholders may elect to receive either $38.80 in cash or 0.7005 shares of Ecolab stock for each share of Nalco Holdings/NLC common stock they hold. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Emerson Poynter LLP is investigating the fairness of the proposed transaction to Nalco Holdings shareholders, whether the shareholders are being underpaid for their stock, and whether Nalco Holdings' Board of Directors acted in the shareholders' best interests. In particular, Nalco Holdings recently reported positive preliminary second quarter financial results, including record sales of $1.2 billion. In addition, Nalco Holdings' shares have increased in value approximately 27% over the past year. Based on these and other factors, the firms are critically evaluating whether Nalco Holdings' Board of Directors considered all potential alternatives and obtained the best price for the shareholders.
Emerson Poynter LLP has a national and international class-action legal practice with offices in Little Rock, Arkansas and Houston, Texas. Emerson Poynter handles complex commercial litigation with a concentration in those cases that involve violations of federal and state securities or antitrust laws, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), and consumer protection laws. It has substantial experience in litigating large complex class-action cases and serves in a leadership position in numerous cases.