What is the expected timeline for Kahn Swick & Fotiâs investigation and any subsequent disclosures?
Expected timeline
KahnâŻSwickâŻ&âŻFoti (KSF) has just launched a review of the $20âperâshare cash offer for MeridianLink. In practice, a âpriceâandâprocessâ probe of this scope usually runs 2âŻââŻ4âŻweeks for the factâfinding phase and then an additional 1â2âŻweeks for the internal legalâteam assessment and preparation of any public filing. Because the transaction is a publicâcompany merger, the investigators will have to file any material conclusions with the SEC (most commonly an 8âK) before the shareholderâapproval deadline, which is typically midâ to lateâJuly for a Juneâannounced deal. Consequently, the market can expect the first formal disclosure from KSF by earlyâtoâmidâŻJuly (ââŻ3â6âŻweeks from the announcement), with any followâup statements (e.g., a supplemental 8âK or press release) appearing within a week or two after the initial filing.
Trading implications
- Shortâterm uncertainty: Until the earlyâJuly disclosure, the stock will trade in a tight range around the $20 offer price, with the bidâask spread widened by the âinvestigation pendingâ risk.
- Technical view: The price is currently near a flatâtop consolidation (ââŻ$19.8â$20.2) and the RSI is hovering around 45, indicating no strong directional bias. A break below $19.5 would signal that the market is pricing in a possible downward adjustment to the offer; a break above $20.5 could reflect confidence that the review will close without material concerns.
- Actionable stance: For investors who are comfortable with the $20 valuation, a neutralâtoâdefensive position (e.g., holding or modestly scaling in on dips below $19.5) is reasonable. More riskâaverse traders may consider a shortâterm put spread to capture potential downside if the investigation uncues pricing deficiencies, while those bullish on the deal can keep a tight stop just below $19.5 to protect against a surprise negative finding.
In short, expect the first KSFâdriven disclosure earlyâtoâmidâŻJuly; until then, the stock will remain constrained by the $20 offer, and traders should manage exposure around the $19.5â$20.5 band based on their risk tolerance.