KT4 Partners LLC v. Palantir Technologies Inc. deals with access to emails under § 220. When does a shareholder typically get access to emails?

• A. If the company properly records actions through minutes and official records, emails need not be produced.
• B. Emails are always produced.
• C. Emails are never produced.
• D. Emails are produced only if there are no minutes.

Answer: (A)

Under § 220, a shareholder can inspect the company’s books and records for a proper purpose. KT4 Partners LLC v. Palantir Technologies Inc. explains that if the company keeps thorough minutes and official records of actions, those records can satisfy the shareholder’s information needs. In that situation, emails need not be produced because the meaningful information about decisions and actions is already captured in the formal record. Emails become relevant only if the minutes or official records are incomplete or fail to document certain actions, in which case a court may order production to supplement the record. This reflects a balance: rely on the official corporate records when they suffice, and resort to emails only to fill gaps.