Delaware judge orders Verisk to pursue $2.35 billion AccuLynx acquisition

Saturday 08 August 2026 - 08:30

By: Sahili Aya

Delaware judge orders Verisk to pursue $2.35 billion AccuLynx acquisition

A Delaware judge has ordered Verisk to move forward with its proposed $2.35 billion acquisition of AccuLynx, reviving a transaction the data analytics company abandoned more than seven months ago following a prolonged regulatory review.

The ruling represents a significant setback for Verisk, which had argued that it was entitled to terminate the agreement after U.S. antitrust authorities failed to complete their review within the contractual timeframe.

Judge rejects Verisk's termination

Delaware Chancery Court Judge Bonnie David determined that Verisk's decision to walk away from the transaction was invalid.

The judge concluded that Verisk's own conduct had contributed to the failure of a condition required for the deal to close, meaning the company could not rely on that failure to terminate the agreement.

The ruling requires Verisk to attempt to complete the acquisition, although the transaction still faces regulatory approval.

FTC review delayed the transaction

Verisk announced its intention to acquire AccuLynx in July 2025, with completion initially anticipated during the third quarter of that year.

The transaction subsequently faced additional scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In October, the agency requested further information from both companies, extending the regulatory process and pushing back the expected closing.

Verisk ultimately terminated the agreement on December 26, saying the FTC had not completed its review by the contractual termination date.

AccuLynx disputed that decision and informed Verisk that it considered the termination invalid. Verisk rejected that position and said it would defend itself against the claims.

Financial consequences for Verisk

The court also determined that AccuLynx is entitled to recover certain direct costs associated with the failed transaction, together with interest.

The ruling could therefore expose Verisk to additional financial obligations beyond the requirement to resume efforts to complete the acquisition.

However, the ultimate completion of the deal remains dependent on the FTC's approval, leaving the transaction subject to further regulatory scrutiny.

Broader implications for M&A

The dispute illustrates the risks companies can face when large acquisitions encounter prolonged regulatory reviews.

For buyers and sellers negotiating major transactions, contractual deadlines and regulatory conditions can become particularly consequential when antitrust authorities request additional information or extend their examination of a deal.

The Delaware ruling also highlights the importance of how parties conduct themselves during the period between signing an acquisition agreement and seeking regulatory clearance.

For Verisk and AccuLynx, the next stage will depend on both companies' ability to revive the transaction and satisfy the remaining regulatory requirements.