Konsulentfirma skriver i en gennemgang, at ”As summer wraps up, the landscape of shareholder activism has defied the usual mid-summer slowdown in North America, with plenty of high-profile campaigns. Activist investors have targeted some of the country’s most recognizable companies, after a relatively slow first quarter. The current state of activism is marked by high-profile battles, with influential investors like Elliott Management and Starboard Value launching campaigns against several Fortune 1000 corporations, including Southwest Airlines, Starbucks and Autodesk.// Notable Campaigns: Southwest Airlines down 3.4% since start of campaign on June 10, 2024: In June, Elliott Investment Management (“Elliott”) disclosed a $1.9 billion stake in the budget airline and called for “enhancing the board, upgrading leadership and a comprehensive business review.” [1], [2] Elliott claimed that years of disappointing shareholder returns were the result of a rigid board and a management team whose stubbornness prevented a turnaround the company desperately needs. [3] Elliott has since advanced a 10-person slate for election on Southwest’s 15-person board. [4] Recently, Southwest announced Executive Chairman Gary Kelly and six other board members will retire from the board by the end of the year.”
Morten W. Langer