최근에 국민적 관심을 촉발하였던 (구)삼성물산과 제일모직간의 합병이 우여곡절 끝에 성사되었고, 그로 인해 이재용 삼성전자 부회장이 삼성그룹의 실질적인 지주회사격인 (통합)삼성물산의 최대주주가 되면서 경영권 승계작업이 탄력을 받게 되었으며, 복잡한 순환출자구조로 얽혀 있던 삼성그룹의 지배구조도 단순화되었다. 그런데 미국계 헤지펀드이며 투자자인 엘리엇이 합병목적의 부당성, 합병비율의 불공정성, 자사주 매각의 위법성 등을 지적하면서 법원에 가처분을 신청하였다. 이에 대하여 최근 하급심의 결정이 있었고, 그 중 일부에 대해서는 대법원에 재항고가 이루어졌다. 그리고 엘리엇이 추가소송을 제기할 가능성은 여전히 남아 있다.
이번 합병에서 (구)삼성물산은 부족한 부분을 보완하고 시너지효과를 창출하기 위한 것이라고 주장하였지만, 총수일가의 경영권 승계와도 무관하지는 않다. 그리고 행동주의 헤지펀드가 수익률 제고를 위해 적극적으로 주주권을 행사하며 적대적 M&A를 시도하고 있어 국내기업의 경영권 방어 필요성에 관한 논란이 재현되고 있다. 더욱이 이번 합병에 관한 법적 분쟁에서 상법 등 국내법제의 미흡한 부분도 드러났다. 따라서 향후 유사한 분쟁의 예방과 합리적인 법제의 구축을 위해서는 이번에 제기된 쟁점들을 심층적으로 분석할 필요가 있다. 이에 이하에서는 합병내용과 주식 및 주주권에 관련된 주요쟁점들을 검토하면서 내포된 문제점을 규명하고 법제적 보완방안을 모색하였다.
Under the Commercial Act, in order to effect a merger of companies, a written agreement for a merger shall be prepared and be approved by a general shareholders' meeting(§522(1)), a summary of the written agreement of a merger shall be stated in notice and public notice under Article 363(§522(2)). Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act(hereinafter referred as "FISCMA"), meanwhile, a stock-listed corporation shall comply with the guidelines, such as requirements, methods, etc. prescribed by Presidential Decree when it conducts merger with another corporation(§165-4(1)). Namely, in cases of a merger between stock-listed corporations, as of the day preceding the earlier of the date when the resolution of the board of directors is made for the merger or the date when the merger contract is concluded, the lower value of the average of the closing prices(average closing price for the latest one month, average closing price for the latest one week, closing price on the latest date(FISCMA Presidential Decree §176-5(1)-1).
Recently, it took place the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries. And so Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics Vice President is be the largest shareholder of Samsung C&T, and a succession management control operations are subject to elasticity, the governance structure of Samsung Group was intricately simplified. By the way, Elliott which is US-based hedge funds were applying for a court injunction, while pointing out unfairness purpose and ratio of the merger and illegality of treasury shares sold. This was recently decided against the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court, but the appeal was made to the Supreme Court for some of them. Furthermore, Elliot is still likely to raise further litigation.
The Samsung C&T claims complements the deficiencies and will to create synergy effect in the merger, but there is no denying that the purpose of the succession of management rights are involved. Meanwhile, activist hedge funds is intensifying, shareholder rights for hostile M&A is being done through the event. Thus, this claim should defend management control of domestic companies appearing again. And it turned out to be domestic legal issues related to the merger in the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze in depth the legal issues raised at this merger in order to prevent other similar problems in the future and to establish a more rational legal system and method. In this paper, thus, I have investigated the legal and practical problems relating to purpose and ratio of merger, methods of merger price, disposition and acquisition of Company's Own Shares, minority shareholder rights, rights to injunction, appraisal rights of opposing shareholders under the Commercial Act and FISCMA, and suggested the settlement methods such legal and practical problems.