Gearhart Industries, Inc. v. Smith International, Inc.

GEE, Circuit Judge:

On this appeal we review a preliminary injunction and various other orders entered by the district court in connection with an attempt by Appellant Smith International, Inc. (Smith) to acquire control of Appellee Gearhart Industries, Inc. (Gearhart), another company operating in the general area of oil field service. A cross-appeal by Gearhart complains of the court’s refusal to sterilize voting rights in a large block of Gearhart shares purchased by Smith early in the takeover attempt from General Electric Venture Capital Corporation.

The movant must prove four…