IAC Search, LLC v. Conversant LLC

The Delaware Court of Chancery addressed a claim of fraud in connection with the purchase of six subsidiary companies of ValueClick, Inc. made pursuant to a Purchase Agreement. The plaintiff-buyer alleged that ValueClick, Inc. fraudulently induced it to overpay for one of the subsidiaries. The Court found that this claim was foreclosed based on the combination of an affirmative anti-reliance clause and an integration clause found in the Purchase Agreement. The anti-reliance clause stated: “The Buyer acknowledges that neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates or Representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any [purchase-related information], unless any such information is contained in [this Agreement].” The Purchase Agreement’s integration clause set forth standard integration language that clearly defined the writings that comprised the parties’ agreement.

BOTTOM LINE: In order to foreclose claims of fraud based on statements or omissions made outside the terms of a contract, the contract must contain an affirmative disclaimer that either: (1) specifically includes what the party claiming fraud is relying upon when it decides to enter into the agreement or (2) that the party claiming fraud was not relying on any representations made outside of the agreement.