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☆ ValueAct increases Salesforce stake to nearly $1 billion, sending shares up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mason Morfit, Salesforce board member and co-CEO of activist investor ValueAct, has increased his stake in Marc Benioff's software firm to just under $1 billion, acquiring $99 million worth of shares earlier this week, just days after the company reported its first revenue miss since 2006. The trade was disclosed in a regulatory filing Thursday, sending Salesforce shares up around 3.5% on the news in morning trading. The other activists eyeing Salesforce at the time included Elliott Management, Dan Loeb's Third Point, and Starboard Value. Earlier this year, Salesforce's widely reported pursuit of data management firm Informatica sent shares see-sawing before the putative target said it was not considering a sale. Salesforce shares briefly eclipsed their previous 2021 highs earlier this year, but have since given back those gains and are down 4% year-to-date.

Persons: Mason Morfit, ValueAct, Marc Benioff's, Morfit, Benioff's, eyeing Salesforce, Elliott, Dan Loeb's, Benioff, Salesforce's, Jeff Ubben, Bob Iger, Trian's Nelson Peltz, Ike Perlmutter, Salesforce Organizations: ValueAct, Elliott Management, Informatica, Microsoft, Marvel Locations: New York, U.S, Benioff

☆ Exxon faces opposition from CalPERS after 'devastating' anti-ESG activist suit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Exxon Mobil 's monthslong battle with two environmentally focused activist investors has cost the company the support of the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The two activists submitted a shareholder proposal that would have forced the company to reduce direct emissions and set a target for lowering emissions at suppliers and customers. Exxon sued the investors in Texas federal court in January, prompting them to withdraw the proposal. Even with the activists backing off, Exxon has continued its lawsuit to prevent the activists from ever again submitting such a proposal. CalPERS said in its letter that Exxon's "reckless" lawsuit threatened shareholder activism efforts on any issue.

Persons: Darren Woods, Arjuna, CalPERS, Marcie Frost, Theresa Taylor, it's, Greg Goff, Kaisa Hietala, Andy Karsner, Jeff Ubben Organizations: APEC, Summit, Moscone West, Exxon Mobil, California Public Employees, Exxon, CNBC, ExxonMobil, Securities and Exchange Commission, Inclusive Capital Locations: San Francisco , California, Texas

☆ Activist investor Ubben shutting down Inclusive Capital-sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jeffrey Ubben, Founder & CEO at ValueAct Capital, speaks on the Reuters Newsmaker event "The Future of Shareholder Activism" in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 22, 2017. Ubben told investors in a memo he was winding down some funds and returning capital, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Ubben and Inclusive Capital, known as InCap, did not respond to calls and emails for comment. Last year more hedge funds closed their doors than launched, data from Hedge Fund Research show. More than two decades ago, Ubben, 61, who started his career at mutual fund giant Fidelity, founded ValueAct Capital in San Francisco.

Persons: Jeffrey Ubben, Andrew Kelly, Jeff Ubben, Ubben, InCap, Martha Stewart, John Paulson, Louis Bacon, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Sabrina Valle, Josie Kao Organizations: ValueAct, Reuters, REUTERS, Capital Partners, Inclusive, Hedge Fund Research, Fidelity, Microsoft, Street Journal, Exxon, Rad Laboratories, Unifi Inc, Bayer, Svea, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, San Francisco, Houston

☆ AI is robbing us of our creativity, says Inclusive Capital's Jeff Ubben
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAI is robbing us of our creativity, says Inclusive Capital's Jeff UbbenCNBC's Jon Fortt sits down with Inclusive Capital Partners Founder Jeff Ubben to discuss the digital economy, AI's impact on creators and more.

Persons: Jeff Ubben CNBC's Jon Fortt, Jeff Ubben Organizations: Inclusive Capital Partners

☆ Exclusive: ValueAct names Hale co-CEO, announces partner departures, strong gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

At the same time, ValueAct told investors in a letter seen by Reuters that three partners, including the firm's president Brandon Boze, are leaving. Boze will retire from the firm in 2024 and partners Dylan Haggart and Sarah Coyne will leave. ValueAct also pushed to replace four Seven & i Holdings directors with its own candidates this year, a campaign rejected by shareholders. "Rob has built what we believe is the premiere engagement investing franchise in Japan," the letter said. ValueAct said Coyne identified long-term super cycles as the market reached to short term datapoints.

Persons: Robert Hale, Mason Morfit, ValueAct, Brandon Boze, Boze, Dylan Haggart, Sarah Coyne, Morfit, Jeff Ubben, Hale, Rob, Haggart, Coyne, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Reuters, Microsoft, San, Fund, Japan Fund, Olympus, Holdings, Elliott Investment Management, Ubben's Inclusive, Spotify, New York Times, Svea, Thomson Locations: Japan, San Francisco, Seagate, Salesforce

☆ Ubben’s Inclusive sees opportunity to boost value at Dutch chemical maker and help the environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It operates through the following segments: Methanol U.S., Methanol Europe, Nitrogen U.S., Nitrogen Europe and Fertiglobe. It will be a state-of-the-art facility at the forefront of blue ammonia production and is expected to come online in 2025 and produce 1.1 million tons of blue ammonia annually. This facility will combine nitrogen with blue hydrogen to create blue ammonia. It is considered "blue" ammonia because the carbon emissions produced from the hydrogen production process are captured and stored. Second, this blue ammonia will be sold through an ammonia terminal at the port of Rotterdam that OCI owns and operates.

☆ Salesforce says Elliott will not nominate directors to board
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 27 (Reuters) - Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) said on Monday activist investor Elliott Management Corp has decided to not proceed with director nominations to the board of the cloud-based software provider, due to its strong earnings and 2024 transformation initiatives. "Salesforce and Elliott have committed to continue the productive working relationship they have developed together," a joint statement from the companies said. Earlier this month, Reuters reported Elliott nominated a slate of directors to Salesforce's board. Elliott unveiled its multi-billion dollar stake in Salesforce January. Other hedge funds with stakes include Jeff Ubben's Inclusive Capital Partners, Jeff Smith's Starboard Value, ValueAct Capital and Third Point.

☆ Inclusive Capital's Ubben named to Vistry board as homebuilder looks to leverage recent acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As a pioneering activist ESG investor (AESG), Inclusive seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit. Their primary focus is on environmental and social value creation, which leads to shareholder value creation. They build communities that are mixed tenure, placing affordable housing among open market homes, retail stores, etc. This model has the benefits of a secular shift to affordable housing and is capex light since they do not have to acquire the land. But, in this case the community benefits align so perfectly with the company growth prospects – topline company growth means more affordable housing.

☆ Salesforce sufficiently acquiesces to angry mob
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The software developer revealed financial progress in its quarterly results, indicated it would throttle pricey deals and installed new board members, including a representative from ValueAct Capital. Co-Founder and Chief Executive Marc Benioff said on Wednesday that improving profitability is the company’s top priority. As evidence of the commitment, Salesforce said in January that it would lay off 10% of its workers. They are Mason Morfit, chief executive of ValueAct Capital; Sachin Mehra, Mastercard’s finance chief; and Arnold Donald, the former CEO of Carnival. Assertive investors Starboard Value, ValueAct Capital, and Inclusive Capital, have held talks with Salesforce, according to Reuters.

☆ Don't act on new activist push for board seats at Salesforce before earnings, Benioff reaction
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Hedge fund Elliott Management's decision to nominate candidates for Salesforce 's (CRM) board represents an escalation of the activist agitation at the Club holding. The Club generally believes activists' wishes for cost-cutting at Salesforce are positive, as long as Benioff remains at the helm. It's unclear whether Elliott is nominating two or three candidates for Salesforce's board, according to CNBC's David Faber, who broke the story Wednesday morning . Benioff is chairman of Salesforce's board. However, we don't want the activist pressure at Salesforce to cause Benioff to depart the company.

☆ Cramer sees a 'good chance' Salesforce's Benioff will soon announce succession plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jim Cramer suggested Saturday that plans for a leadership change at Club holding Salesforce (CRM) — helmed by co-founder Marc Benioff for more than two decades — may be disclosed in the near future. CRM YTD mountain Salesforce (CRM) YTD performance In early January, Salesforce announced a cost-cutting plan that included layoffs and office space reductions — moves that Jim has said were pushed for by Starboard . While Benioff has said he's "never leaving" Salesforce , the company has twice elevated an executive to the role of co-CEO. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Marc Benioff, founder, chairman and CEO of enterprise cloud computing company Salesforce.

☆ Salesforce, activist investor Elliott may soon reach deal - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 17 (Reuters) - Cloud-based software firm Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) and activist investor Elliott Management Corp are in discussions to reach an agreement that may end a possible board challenge, according to two people familiar with the matter. The battle at Salesforce has pitted Elliott as well as other activist investors against Marc Benioff, one of Silicon Valley's most iconic chief executives. Salesforce's growth has slowed dramatically in recent quarters and last month the company said it would cut 10% of jobs to address its performance. Representatives for Salesforce and Elliott declined to comment. Elliott too has long invested in technology companies and in the past reached settlements for board seats with companies including Pinterest (PINS.N), Twitter and eBay (EBAY.O).

☆ Salesforce engineers are about to be hit with new performance metrics, while some salespeople are being pressured to quit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Ellen Thomas | Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some Salesforce employees have been offered a "Prompt Exit Package" instead of a layoff, with less severance. Employees say the company is ratcheting up performance expectations as activist investors invade. "The company is pushing hard for productivity tracking and metrics on all facets," one employee told Insider. Salesforce cut a few hundred salespeople in November, a person familiar with the matter told Insider, and the company told Insider the cuts were made for "accountability," implying that performance was a consideration. In some cases, the company has presented employees with PEP offers in the same week it has executed mass layoffs, employees told Insider.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Sonos, Salesforce, Disney, Credit Suisse and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sonos — Shares surged 17% after Sonos reported a big beat in its fiscal first-quarter results. The audio products developer posted per-share earnings of 57 cents, compared to consensus estimates of 40 cents per share, according to Refinitiv. Affirm Holdings — The buy now, pay later finance company slumped 20% a day after its fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue missed analysts' estimates, according to Refinitiv. Revenue and earnings were both below analysts' estimates, according to Refinitiv. Credit Suisse Group — Shares plunged 14% after the Swiss bank reported a fourth-quarter and annual net loss that missed estimates, according to Eikon.

☆ Yet another activist targets Salesforce — further validation there's money to be made in the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A fifth activist investor has taken a stake in Club holding Salesforce (CRM), making loud and clear that well-respected hedge funds see a money-making opportunity in the enterprise software giant. With activist investing becoming more common since the Great Financial Crisis, Jiang said it's not unheard of for a single company to be targeted by multiple firms. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Bayer picks outsider Anderson as CEO after investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

News of the CEO change sent the German drugs-to-pesticides giant's shares to their highest level in nearly eight months. Shares in Bayer closed up 6% on the news of the new CEO, reaching the top of Frankfurt's blue-chip index and hitting their highest level since June last year. "Bill Anderson's mission is clear: enable Bayer to realize its full potential and create sustainable value for our shareholders, farmers, patients, consumers, employees, and all stakeholders of the company," Winkeljohann added. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that activist investor Jeff Ubben had contacted fellow investors to drum up support for big changes at Bayer, including the swift replacement of Baumann. Reporting by Patricia Weiss, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tom Sims and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The campaign increases the pressure on non-executive Chairman Norbert Winkeljohann, who has faced calls from large shareholders for the swift replacement of Chief Executive Werner Baumann, who engineered Bayer's troubled Monsanto takeover. The approaches come after Ubben's activist investment fund Inclusive Capital Partners said last month it had bought a 0.83% stake in Bayer. David Herro, deputy chairman of Harris Associates, told Reuters in brief emailed comments that Ubben had contacted him to discuss Bayer. A spokesperson said Bayer was always open to a constructive dialogue with shareholders and declined to comment further. Investors who have publicly called for a swift CEO change hold at least a combined 6.7% in Bayer, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ Here’s our February rapid-fire update on all 34 stocks in Jim Cramer’s Investing Club portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Here's a rapid-fire update on all 34 stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the holdings we manage in the CNBC Investing Club. J & J is a good stock to get into ahead of the impending split into two companies: consumer brands and pharma/medical technology. The company reported a good quarter and guidance, while fundamentals are solid ahead of the split. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

☆ Salesforce appoints new board directors amid activist investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) on Friday named three new board directors, including the chief of hedge fund ValueAct Capital, amid pressure from activist investors for better cost control and a management shakeup at the cloud-based software firm. The company appointed chief executive of hedge fund ValueAct Capital Mason Morfit, Mastercard (MA.N) finance chief Sachin Mehra and former chief executive of Carnival Corp (CCL.N) Arnold Donald to its board. Reuters reported on Thursday that Elliott Management Corp, the activist investment firm that recently made a multimillion-dollar investment in Salesforce, plans to nominate several director candidates. The company also said Sanford Robertson and Alan Hassenfeld, directors at Salesforce since 2003, will not stand for re-election. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ If Marc Benioff is forced to sell Slack to appease activist investors, it would probably be worth less than half the $28 billion he paid just 18 months ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He calculated Slack would be worth less than half what Salesforce paid for it, and could still be worth selling. Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff has multiple activist investors with stakes in his company, circling him to demand changes. One possible outcome is that Benioff is forced to sell or spinoff Slack, according to analysts. It paid more than twice that — $27.7 billion — in an acquisition that closed just 18 months ago. Under siege from fearsome activist investorsWhen we say Benioff has multiple activist investors circling, we mean he's practically under siege.

☆ Activist Elliott to nominate directors at Salesforce -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Elliott Management Corp, the activist investment firm that recently made a multimillion-dollar investment in Salesforce (CRM.N), plans to nominate several director candidates at the cloud-based software company, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Elliott, which invests more than $55 billion, is currently interviewing a number of people including technology industry executives and executives in other industries, the people said. Elliott has long invested in technology companies and in the past reached settlements for board seats with companies including Pinterest (PINS.N), Twitter and eBay (EBAY.O). News that Elliott expects to nominate directors, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, came after Bloomberg reported Salesforce was considering refreshing its board, a step some companies take preemptively if activists start building holdings of their shares. At Salesforce there are at least four activist investors including Elliott, Starboard Value, Jeff Ubben's Inclusive Capital and ValueAct, the firm Ubben founded and which is now run by Mason Morfit, sources familiar with the matter said.

☆ Facing growing calls for reform, Salesforce could use some fresh faces on its board
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The enterprise software giant is considering at least three potential board appointees, Bloomberg News reported Thursday , citing people with knowledge of the matter. Among those reportedly in conversation to join Salesforce's board are former Carnival Cruise CEO Arnold Donald, Mastercard CFO Sachin Mehra and Mason Morfit, the chief executive of ValueAct Capital. And the firm is now planning to nominate candidates for Salesforce's board, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday . Bottom line We're encouraged by the Bloomberg report because Salesforce's board could undoubtedly use a refresh, with multiple directors having served for 10 years or more, according to FactSet. New board members, coupled with growing activist pressure, could could be just the boost Salesforce needs and that the market wants to see.

☆ Activist investors in Salesforce spell good news for shareholders like us
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Pressure from activist investors is mounting at Club holding Salesforce (CRM). Elliott's investment in Salesforce comes roughly three months after activist investor Starboard Value disclosed a position in the company. Moreover, Jim Cramer has said, at least two other investors with activist backgrounds, including Jeff Ubben , have taken a stake in Salesforce. If these high-profile investors thought Salesforce was irreparably damaged company, whose tech was at a competitive disadvantage, they may have looked elsewhere. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Jeff Ubben's Inclusive Capital takes stake in Salesforce as more activists target the software giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jeff Ubben's Inclusive Capital has taken a position in Salesforce , according to sources, CNBC's David Faber reported Monday. Salesforce has also attracted activist investor Elliott Management's interest, which made a multibillion dollar investment, the Wall Street Journal reported late Sunday. In October, Starboard Value announced an undisclosed stake in Salesforce, saying the company was suffering from a valuation discount due to a "subpar mix of growth and profitability." Salesforce is in the middle of restructuring amid slowing growth and recession fears. Earlier this year, the firm said it planned to cut jobs by 10%, or 700 employees, and close some offices.

☆ Inclusive Capital takes a stake in Bayer — 3 ways it may build value with a sustainable focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Activist Commentary: Inclusive Capital Partners is a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on increasing shareholder value and promoting sound environmental, social and governance practices. As a pioneering active ESG ("AESG") investor, Inclusive seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit. Bayer's crop science division accounts for approximately 25% of global crop farming. There are several ways to create this shareholder value. Bayer currently trades at approximately 7x earnings while its pure-play crop science peer, Corteva, trades at closer to 20x earnings.

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