Activist investor Elliott Management said Monday it would mount a proxy fight to push for change at Southwest Airlines through a special shareholder vote unless management is willing to negotiate, citing a poison pill and board expansion that the investor views as "entrenchment maneuvers." Elliott in its letter to Southwest's board said it remained open to collaboration, but that the board had taken steps to box Elliott out. A proxy fight would be expensive and challenging for Elliott and Southwest Airlines. Activist investors can mount proxy fights if they are seeking to force change in a company's leadership or operations. Companies usually settle with Elliott, one of the most successful activist investors, rather than risk taking on the activist in a proxy battle.

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Persons: Elliott Management, Elliott, Bob Jordan, Gary Kelly, underperformance, John Pike, Bobby Xu, expeditiously, Rakesh Gangwal, Pike, Xu Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Elliott, Southwest, Companies, Salesforce Locations: Southwest