Activist investors
Resources
From McDonald’s to Suez, many large and established companies have been shaken up by activist investors in recent years. The FT will be ranking the most influential investors - and readers are invited to vote.
Have your say
Poll: Who is the most influential activist investor?
Vote results
Bill Ackman (Pershing Square Capital)
2.7%Nelson Peltz (Trian)
2.9%David Slager (Atticus)
2.7%Sparx Asset Management
0.7%Ralph Whitworth (Relational Investors)
3.2%Anthony Bolton (Fidelity)
4.9%Richard Breeden (former SEC boss)
1%Reade Griffith (Polygon)
11%David Herro (Harris Associates)
10%Chris Hohn (TCI)
17.1%Carl Icahn
14.4%Kirk Kerkorian (Tracinda)
6.1%Eric Knight (Knight Vinke)
23.4%
Share your views
Who would you say are the world’s most effective activists? Have your say in our online discussion forum.
Most influential activist investors
Which shareholder activists are the most influential? Vote for those nominated by FT reporters, or add your own suggestions.
A course to help digest the battle jargon
Here are some definitions that corporate executives involved in a hostile takeover bid may find useful
Activists flex muscles as markets falter
Last year aggressive shareholder actions inspired some of the biggest corporate battles in the European markets and an increase in shareholder activism is forecast for 2008
Activist investors seize control of Eaglet
Proposals to elect three directors endorsed by the activist shareholders were passed, paving the way for an overhaul of the struggling fund’s structure and strategy
Icelanders turn up the heat on Elisa
Activist investor Novator, the Finnish telephone company’s largest shareholder, has raised the stakes by demanding big changes to its structure and strategy
Unionen raises stake in Norske Skog
Norwegian activist investors have built a strategic stake in struggling Norske Skog, the world’s second-largest newsprint producer, and have called a general meeting to halt the company’s planned capacity cuts
Activist investors seek success in Germany
Activist investors face family control at companies and political opposition in Germany, and although they have attracted a lot of attention, their track record is mixed
Asia dispatch: Deference capitulates to contention
Far too many local institutional investors remain deferential to management, writes Sundeep Tucker
Investors who pack a powerful punch
Shareholder activism has turned the investment landscape on its head, writes Kate Burgess
