Publications
Publications
- March 2001 (Revised December 2003)
- HBS Case Collection
Circon (A)
By: Brian J. Hall, Guhan Subramanian and Christopher A Rose
Abstract
In 1996, U.S. Surgical launched a hostile takeover bid against Circon Corp. After building the company for 20 years, CEO Richard Auhll takes a defensive stand that includes inviting an old HBS friend (George Cloutier) to join the fight as a director of Circon. A "poison pill" and a staggered board serve as primary defense measures, leading to the longest-running takeover battle in U.S. corporate history. Issues of loyalty to a friend, executive incentives, executive entrenchment, and duty to shareholders collide as Cloutier realizes crucial corporate governance decisions have to be made.
Keywords
Motivation and Incentives; Corporate Governance; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; United States
Citation
Hall, Brian J., Guhan Subramanian, and Christopher A Rose. "Circon (A)." Harvard Business School Case 801-403, March 2001. (Revised December 2003.)