The battle by two hedge funds to claim seats on the board of CSX reached a bizarre climax on Wednesday after the US railway operator’s shareholder meeting, when the funds said they had won at least four seats, but CSX said the vote was too close to call.

CSX has been engaged in a bitter eight-month fight to stave off the funds, London-based The Children’s Investment fund and Brazil-based 3G, which have been critical of the company and were demanding five seats on its 12-seat board.