Norfolk Southern shareholders on Thursday voted to elect three of dissident Ancora's director nominees but fell short of ousting incumbent CEO Alan Shaw.
Norfolk Southern's board had fought hard to stave off Ancora's biggest demand: firing current CEO Alan Shaw.
The activist had argued that Norfolk Southern should adopt a model known as precision-scheduled railroading, or PSR, which has delivered impressive shareholder returns at other railroads.
Government officials, who had previously voiced their support for Norfolk over Ancora, were momentarily silenced by the reversal.
ISS recommended that shareholders support five of Ancora's seven picks but did not recommend electing Ancora CEO pick Jim Barber to the board.
Persons:
Alan Shaw, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Ancora, Glass Lewis, Jim Chadwick, Frederick DiSanto, Shaw, Ancora's, Jim Barber, Ancora's Chadwick, DiSanto
Organizations:
Norfolk Southern, Shareholders, Norfolk, ISS, PSR, Government, Labor, Cleveland
Locations:
. Norfolk, Ohio, Ancora