Investors, bankers and lawyers expect a busy second half where activists may become more involved in trying to jumpstart mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
"Volatile markets and depressed M&A markets are not deterring activists from launching campaigns in 2023," said Jim Rossman, global head of shareholder advisory at Barclays.
In the second half, Barclays' Rossman expects to see a market with pent-up demand for M&A and $1.4 trillion parked in private equity firms' war chests that needs to be put to work.
"The proof is in the pudding in the 2023 proxy season," Rossman said.
"Activists won seats at 80% of proxy contests that went to a final vote, compared to 33% in 2022."
Persons:
Jim Rossman, ValueAct, Carl Icahn, Francis deSouza, Elliott, Rossman, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Jamie Freed
Organizations:
YORK, Elliott Investment Management, Capital, Legion Partners, Barclays, Holdings, Inclusive, Partners, Bayer, Reuters, Capital Management, Svea, Thomson
Locations:
Europe, Asia, United States