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Winning Moves in the Age of  Shareholder Activism

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Winning Moves in the Age of Shareholder Activism

Boston Consulting Group,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

With shareholder activism on the rise, companies need to prepare before activists pounce.

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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

Shareholder activists, once considered a fringe element, have become a loud, powerful voice with which leaders of companies both large and small must reckon. Activists target bigger firms than before, and they wield their influence over businesses more forcefully than in the past. While corporations may view them as a headache, shareholder activists can push firms toward more rational portfolios, better honed strategies and higher share values. getAbstract recommends this authoritative report from Boston Consulting Group professionals to senior managers and boards of directors, who should take its smart advice seriously, before activists pounce.

Summary

The shareholder activist landscape has evolved. At one time, activist investors hesitated to disclose potential targets in their portfolios. Now, they publicize their plans to force change in the business strategies of the companies whose shares they own. The influence of activists has grown with their size: They’ve gone from managing $58 billion in assets in 2007 to $120 billion in 2014. Activists have mounted campaigns against 15% of S&P 500 firms since 2009, and the number of actions at large companies – those with more than $100 million in market capitalization – rose nearly fourfold from 2011 to 2014. Shareholder activism...

About the Authors

Jody Foldesy et al. are professionals with the Boston Consulting Group.


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