Part 4/13:
This pattern of alleged misconduct contributed to a broader climate of corporate opacity and regulatory scrutiny, complicating Sinovac's corporate governance. It also laid the foundation for one of the most contentious chapters in its history—the struggle for control by an influential shareholder.
The 2016 Takeover Bid and Poison Pill Defense
In early 2016, Sinovac’s founder proposed taking the company private at $6.18 per share—a premium over the prevailing $5 market price. Supported by private equity firms, he aimed to buy out minority shareholders. However, the company’s board responded by instituting a shareholder rights plan—commonly called a poison pill—designed to thwart hostile takeovers.