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Southwest Airlines said Wednesday that it has adopted a shareholder rights plan, more commonly known as a "poison pill," in response to activist Elliott Management's investment in the airline and push to oust CEO Bob Jordan and Chairman Gary Kelly. The poison pill will only activate if Elliott — or another investor — acquires at least 12.5% of the company. "Southwest Airlines has made a good faith effort to engage constructively with Elliott Investment Management since its initial investment and remains open to any ideas for lasting value creation," Kelly said in a statement. Elliott and Southwest management met in person just two weeks ago, according to people familiar with the matter. Companies often adopt shareholder rights plans in response to an activist threat; rental car company Hertz adopted a poison pill in 2013 in response to "unusual" trading activity that management thought presaged an activist.

Persons: Elliott, Bob Jordan, Gary Kelly, Elliott —, —, Kelly, Hertz, Jordan, Morgan Stanley, Ellis Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Elliott Investment Management, Companies, Boeing, Southwest, Texas, Bank of America, & Locations: Southwest, Dallas, New York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Kirkland

☆ Masimo activist Politan presents 'last chance' for shareholders to force change at med-tech company
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Led by Quentin Koffey, Politan has nominated two further directors to the company's board, and says that without their election, management will continue to operate without oversight. "This is shareholders' last chance at meaningful change," Politan wrote in a letter to Masimo shareholders on Wednesday, laying out its case to investors ahead of the meeting. But governance improvements have fallen short of what shareholders deserve, Koffey wrote in the letter, noting that Masimo's board "does not review, approve or see a budget." Masimo took aggressive steps to fend off Politan, introducing bylaws to force the firm to reveal its shareholder list. "For more than two years, Politan has navigated unprecedented impediments thrown up by Masimo's board," the activist said.

Persons: MASI, Joe Kiani, Manjunath Kiran, Quentin Koffey, Politan, Masimo, Koffey, Michelle Brennan, Darlene Solomon, Bill Jellison, Stryker, it's, Kiani, Wilkins, Denon, Mario Tama, haven't, Russell, management's Organizations: Getty, Politan Capital Management, CNBC, Apple Watch, Sound United, Bowers, Sound, Shareholders Locations: Bangalore, Jan, Delaware, Caribbean, Irvine , California

☆ Activist Starboard Value demands Autodesk explain accounting, financial issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activist investor Starboard Value on Tuesday sent a letter to Autodesk's board, demanding that the company explain to shareholders who and what was behind an internal financial probe that sparked federal investigations and revealed deliberate misrepresentation of key financial metrics. The activist investor wrote in its letter that there had been "no consequences and no accountability for those involved in this purposeful misleading of shareholders." A representative for Autodesk did not immediately return a request for comment. The internal probe led to the reassignment of its chief financial officer and prompted inquiries from financial regulators and the Justice Department. The activist wrote that it had received "overwhelmingly positive feedback" from other investors frustrated with Autodesk's perceived "poor corporate governance."

Persons: Jeff Smith, Smith, Debbie Clifford Organizations: Autodesk, Justice Department, Company Locations: Delaware

☆ Apple Intelligence won't launch in EU in 2024 due to antitrust regulation, company says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, US, on Monday, June 10, 2024. Apple said Friday it won't release three recently announced features, including its flagship "Apple Intelligence" AI product, in the European Union in 2024 due to "regulatory uncertainties" stemming from the bloc's Digital Markets Act antitrust regulation. Apple Intelligence can proofread writing or even rewrite it in a friendly or professional tone. Apple saw 2023 net sales of $94.3 billion in Europe, just under a quarter of its worldwide net sales. Apple Intelligence also won't be available in Greater China, which accounted for $72.6 billion of its 2023 sales.

Persons: Tim Cook, Apple Organizations: Apple Inc, Apple Worldwide, Apple, Apple Intelligence, European Union, bloc's, EU, Microsoft, OpenAI, European Locations: Cupertino , California, Europe, Greater China

Ilya Sutskever, Russian Israeli-Canadian computer scientist and co-founder and chief scientist of OpenAI, speaks at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, June 5, 2023. OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, who left the artificial intelligence startup last month, introduced his new AI company, which he's calling Safe Superintelligence, or SSI. "I am starting a new company," Sutskever wrote on X on Wednesday. Altman and Sutskever, along with other directors, clashed over the guardrails OpenAI had put in place in the pursuit of advanced AI. "I deeply regret my participation in the board's actions," Sutskever wrote in a post on X on Nov. 20.

Persons: Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI, Sutskever, Jan Leike, OpenAI's, Leike, Daniel Gross, Daniel Levy, Sam Altman, Altman, we've Organizations: Tel Aviv University, SSI, Microsoft, Apple Locations: Russian Israeli, Canadian, Tel Aviv, Palo Alto , California

☆ Activist Starboard sues Autodesk in bid to mount proxy fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Starboard Value sued software maker Autodesk on Monday to delay the company's annual meeting and reopen the board nominating window and allow the activist to mount a proxy fight. Activists can typically only begin a proxy fight, involving the nomination of a slate of directors to replace the existing board, if they submit their proposals within a specific window. Starboard confirmed in a letter on Monday that it has a stake in Autodesk valued at more than $500 million. The company waited until April 1 to tell shareholders about the investigation, filings show, which was more than a week after the nominating window had closed. An Autodesk representative referred CNBC to its prior statements on the matter, where it said it would refuse Starboard's requests to reopen the nominating window and delay the annual meeting.

Persons: Deborah Clifford Organizations: Autodesk, SEC, CNBC Locations: Delaware Chancery

☆ Activist Starboard amasses Autodesk stake, weighs suit over delayed probe disclosure
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Starboard's stake is valued at roughly $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The results of that probe led to the ouster of Autodesk's then-CFO, Deborah Clifford, who was moved to a different executive role within Autodesk. The probe found that executives manipulated reporting tied to company's contract billing structure, as Autodesk shifted back to upfront payments from annualized payments, to improve those metrics. The delayed disclosure came a little more than a week after the deadline to nominate directors closed. Starboard is weighing legal action in Delaware Chancery court to compel the reopening of Autodesk's nominating window and the delay of Autodesk's annual meeting, the people said.

Persons: Jeff Smith, Autodesk's, Deborah Clifford, Marc Benioff's Salesforce Organizations: Autodesk, Securities and Exchange Commission, Cisco, Wall Street, Sachem, Capital Management, Eminence Capital, Justice Department, SEC Locations: Delaware

☆ Nelson Peltz's Trian amasses stake in pest control giant Rentokil
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners has amassed a significant stake in Terminix parent Rentokil and is seeking to engage with leadership on "ideas and initiatives to improve shareholder value," a spokesperson told CNBC Tuesday. That would mean that its stake is valued at more than $400 million, or at least 3% of shares outstanding. A spokesperson for Rentokil, which is headquartered in London, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The news of his stake in Rentokil, reported earlier by Bloomberg, comes shortly after Trian disposed of its remaining stake in Disney. Peltz earlier this year ran an unsuccessful campaign for board seats at the entertainment giant.

Persons: Nelson Peltz, Nelson Peltz's Trian, Trian's Peltz, Heinz, Trian Organizations: Trian Fund Management, Future Investment Initiative, Summit, Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners, CNBC, Rentokil, Proctor & Gamble, Bloomberg, Disney Locations: Miami , Florida, London, Rentokil

A Southwest Airlines jet comes in for a landing at Laguardia Airport in New York City, New York, U.S., January 11, 2023. Activist hedge fund Elliott Management has amassed a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and plans to push for leadership changes at the airline that has lagged big rivals. Elliott said it intends to "pursue all available pathways to deliver the leadership changes" the activist believes Southwest needs. Jordan and Kelly have "presided over a period of stunning underperformance at" Southwest, Elliott said. In just the last few months, the activist has taken a $2.5 billion stake in semiconductor firm Texas Instruments , a $2 billion stake in Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and a $1 billion stake in mining concern Anglo American .

Persons: Elliott, Bob Jordan, Gary Kelly, Jordan, Kelly, Henry Harteveldt, Elliott's Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Laguardia, Elliott Management, Southwest, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, CNBC, Atmosphere Research, Boeing, Crown, Texas Instruments Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Southwest, Texas

☆ 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

☆ Elliott builds $2 billion position in SoftBank, pushes for buyback
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Investment firm Elliott Management has rebuilt its position in Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and is pushing the Masayoshi Son-led firm to begin a $15 billion share buyback, according to a person familiar with the matter. The news, first reported by the Financial Times, sent SoftBank shares up as much as 6.3%. SoftBank shares have surged in recent months largely off the back of its Arm investment. SoftBank's Japanese shares trade at their highest level in decades. SoftBank launched a $20 billion share buyback and asset disposal program in 2020 during Elliott's initial campaign.

Persons: Son, Elliott, SoftBank, Elliot, Nabeel Bhanji, unfriendliness, WeWork Organizations: SoftBank Group Corp, University of Tokyo, Investment, Elliott Management, Financial Times, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Mitsubishi Fudosan, Toshiba, Dai Nippon Printing, Vision Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SoftBank, China

☆ Alphabet taps Eli Lilly's Anat Ashkenazi as new CFO
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Eli Lilly CFO Anat Ashkenazi will become Alphabet's new chief financial officer effective July 31, Google's parent company announced Tuesday, almost a year after Alphabet first announced current CFO Ruth Porat would move to a new role as president and chief investment officer. Ashkenazi has had a 23-year career at Eli Lilly, which in a separate release confirmed her departure. Ashkenazi joined Eli Lilly in 2001 and had been CFO since 2021. She previously served as a CFO for several of the company's global business areas, helping to manage the revenue windfall from Eli Lilly's weight loss and diabetes drugs. Porat had nearly three-decade career as as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, culminating as its CFO, before joining Google in 2015.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Anat Ashkenazi, Ruth Porat, Ashkenazi, Sundar Pichai, Eli Lilly's, Porat, Morgan Stanley, Philipp Schindler, Prabhakar Raghavan, Thomas Kurian, Susan Wojcicki, Robert Kyncl, Geoffrey Hinton, — CNBC's Jenn Elias, Annika Kim Constantino Organizations: Google, CNBC, YouTube

☆ Top proxy advisor ISS recommends against Elon Musk's $56 billion Tesla pay package
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Taylor Hill | Getty ImagesTop proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services on Friday recommended Tesla shareholders vote against the re-approval of CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package and withhold their support from the re-election of News Corp . Tesla's shareholder meeting is on June 13. Tesla's board is seeking shareholder approval to reinstate Musk's pay after a Delaware court voided the package earlier this year. The proxy advisor recommended support for some shareholder proposals that Tesla management opposes, including one that would declassify Tesla's board. Pay package pushTesla has been courting shareholder support in both time-tested and novel ways.

Persons: Elon Musk, Elon Musk's, James Murdoch, Glass Lewis, Tesla, Innisfree, Robyn Denholm, Leo KoGuan, KoGuan, Go Nakamura Organizations: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Getty, Services, News Corp, CNBC, ISS, FGS Global Locations: Los Angeles , California, Taylor, Delaware, Texas, Austin, Austin , Texas, U.S

☆ Texas Instruments CEO open to activist Elliott's free cash flow proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"We definitely look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with Elliott," Ilan said at AllianceBernstein's Strategic Decisions conference, marking his first public remarks since the activist revealed a $2.5 billion position in the company. Texas Instruments has spent heavily on chip fabrication plants, or fabs, as it seeks to maintain its dominant position in the analog semiconductor market. But that growth in capex has come at a significant cost to free cash flow per share, a self-declared key metric for TI, Elliott noted. By Elliott's analysis, FCF per share fell from $6.40 in 2022 to $1.47 per share in 2023. But it remains a giant business, accounting for $13 billion or 74% of TI's revenue in 2023.

Persons: Haviv Ilan, Elliott, Ilan Organizations: Texas, CNBC, TI, Texas Instruments, Micron Technologies Locations: Utah, capex

☆ UiPath shares tank 30% after company announces CEO shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Daniel Dines, billionaire and co-founder of UiPath Inc., at the automation software company's offices in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. UiPath shares plunged more than 30% on Wednesday after the software company said CEO Rob Enslin is resigning effective June 1, and being replaced by co-founder Daniel Dines, who stepped down as co-CEO on Jan. 31. Dines co-founded UiPath in 2005 with Marius Tirca. The company makes software which automates repetitive and "menial" tasks, but its stock has suffered under Enslin's sole leadership. Shares are down 26% year-to-date, after the company debuted in one of the largest U.S. software IPOs ever in 2021.

Persons: Daniel Dines, Rob Enslin, UiPath, Enslin, Dines, Marius Tirca, — CNBC's Ari Levy Organizations: UiPath Inc Locations: Bucharest, Romania, U.S

☆ Gildan's board abruptly resigns ahead of annual meeting, handing control to activist
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The activist firm later claimed Gildan's board was showing a "complete disregard for sound corporate governance." The last time an entire board resigned during an activist battle was in 2012, when Canadian Pacific's board yielded to Bill Ackman hours before the railroad's annual meeting. "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that Browning West's slate and plan have received from our fellow shareholders, Gildan employees, and leading proxy advisory firms," Browning West's Usman Nabi and Peter Lee said in a statement. Browning West, based in Los Angeles, accused Gildan's board of leaking an allegedly non-existent sale process to the media and hiring private investigators to look into one of the firm's nominees. Other major shareholders, including Anson Funds and Janus Henderson, backed Browning West's push.

Persons: Gildan Activewear, Browning West's, Glenn Chamandy, Browning, Vince Tyra, Bill Ackman, Browning West's Usman Nabi, Peter Lee, Gildan's, Gildan, Chamandy, Tyra, Michael Kneeland, Janus Henderson, Glass Lewis, Ancora Organizations: Houchens Industries, Amazon, Target, United Rentals, Anson Funds, Norfolk Southern Locations: Montreal, Gildan, Los Angeles

☆ Vivek Ramaswamy goes activist with Buzzfeed stake, seeks strategic 'shift'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has an 8% stake in BuzzFeed and is seeking to effect a "shift" in the media firm's strategy, the investor said Tuesday in a filing. "Stay tuned," Ramaswamy told CNBC via a spokesperson. Companies should "do whatever allows them to be most successful over the long run without regard to political, social, cultural or environmental agendas," Ramaswamy told CNBC in a 2023 interview. Ramaswamy has remained close to the Mar-a-Lago circuit after throwing his support behind former President and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. It's unlikely, however, that he will be Trump's vice-presidential pick, given that several GOP operatives and donors have expressed deep opposition.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, BuzzFeed, Jonah Peretti, Buzzfeed, — CNBC's Alex Sherman, Brian Schwartz Organizations: U.S, Republican, Trump, New, GOP, CNBC, Management, Roivant Sciences, Inc Locations: New Hampshire, Laconia , New Hampshire, U.S, BuzzFeed

☆ 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 Boaz Weinstein says BlackRock funds are 'crushing shareholder rights'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boaz Weinstein, the hedge fund investor on the winning side of JPMorgan Chase's $6.2 billion, "London Whale" trading loss in 2011, is now taking on index fund giant BlackRock . The hedge fund wants board control at three BlackRock funds and a minority slate at seven others. BlackRock, Saba says in the deck, "considers itself a leader in governance, but is crushing shareholder rights." At certain BlackRock funds, for example, if an investor doesn't submit their vote in a shareholder meeting, their shares will automatically go to support BlackRock. The index fund manager's rebuttal, "Defend Your Fund," describes Saba as an activist hedge fund seeking to "enrich itself."

Persons: Boaz Weinstein, Saba, Weinstein, doesn't Organizations: Saba Capital Management, Bloomberg, JPMorgan Chase's, Weinstein's, CNBC, BlackRock, affirmatively Locations: New York, BlackRock, Weinstein's Saba, Saba

☆ Melinda French Gates to resign from Gates Foundation, will pursue own philanthropy with $12.5 billion grant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on July 01, 2021. Melinda French Gates, the former wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, announced on Monday she would resign as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation next month. Bill Gates in a separate statement said, "I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work." French Gates has also devoted significant amounts of time and money towards gender equality initiatives worldwide. In 2015, she founded Pivotal Ventures, a separate entity from the Gates Foundation, which focused on removing barriers to access and opportunity for minorities and women in the U.S.

Persons: Melinda Gates, Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates, French Gates, Gates, Melinda Organizations: Microsoft, Melinda Gates Foundation, Ventures, Gates Foundation Locations: Paris, France, French, Africa, South Asia, U.S

☆ Squarespace to go private in $7 billion private-equity deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE: SQSP), on May 19, 2021, in celebration of its Direct Listing. Squarespace , the website-building platform, announced on Monday it would go private in a $6.9 billion all-cash deal with private-equity firm Permira, after nearly three turbulent years on the public market. All three have approved the transaction and will continue to be investors after the Permira deal closes. Qualtrics, for example, was spun off from SAP in 2021 and was quickly taken private again in 2023 by Canada's pension plan and Silver Lake in a $12.5 billion deal. Japanese giant Toshiba also went private in 2023 in a $13.6 billion deal, after years of speculation and tumult, including a sustained engagement with activist investor Elliott.

Persons: Squarespace, Permira, Anthony Casalena, Ares Capital, Anthony, David Erlong, Squarespace's, Elliott, Morgan, Skadden, Richards, Layton, Finger, Goldman Sachs, Watkins Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Inc, Accel, General Atlantic, Ares, Blackstone, SAP, Toshiba, Investors, Latham Locations: J.P

☆ Masimo seeks to stave off proxy fight with Politan, makes settlement offer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Health-tech firm Masimo , facing the imminent threat of litigation and a second proxy contest, offered a settlement to Politan Capital's Quentin Koffey on Thursday that would fill a vacant board seat with one of the activist's proposed directors. The company is trying to spin off its consumer technology division in concert with an unspecified joint-venture partner, CEO Joe Kiani said earlier this year. The settlement offer would not have been possible without the imminent resignation of current director Rolf Classon, whose departure was attributed to "personal health reasons." Koffey waged a successful proxy fight at Masimo last year earning himself and another nominee representation on Masimo's six-person board. Politan launched a second proxy fight to oust Kiani earlier this year, saying that the "absence of oversight has been damaging for shareholders."

Persons: Politan Capital's Quentin Koffey, Masimo's, Craig Reynolds, William Jellison, Joe Kiani, Koffey, Masimo, Rolf Classon, Politan, Kiani Organizations: Masimo Locations: Kiani

☆ Activist Ancora wins three board seats at Norfolk Southern but falls short of ousting CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

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

☆ Masimo activist director Koffey demands ‘basic’ information on company’s proposed spinoff
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Politan Capital's Quentin Koffey sent a letter to Masimo CEO Joe Kiani on Wednesday, demanding information about the health-tech company's proposed spinoff of its consumer business. The purchase was a catalyst for Politan's first proxy fight at the company. Last month, Masimo said it would spin off its consumer business, spurring a rally in the stock. Koffey said in his letter that Masimo management has asked "that directors sign a non-disclosure agreement" to get access to information around the deal. The activist is also seeking information on any financial and leadership opportunities Kiani has been promised at the spinout.

Persons: Politan, Quentin Koffey, Joe Kiani, Masimo, Koffey, Kiani, Micah Young, Masimo weren't Organizations: Masimo, Sound United, Fidelity, Kiani

☆ Palantir shares fall 7% on lower-than-expected guidance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Palantir shares fell around 7% in extended trading on Monday after the defense tech firm reported weaker-than-expected guidance. Palantir expects second-quarter revenue to fall between $649 million to $653 million, versus the $653 million expected by LSEG. Palantir reported $105.5 million in net income for the quarter, or 4 cents per share, compared with $16.8 million, or 1 cent per share, in the year-ago quarter. Earlier this year, Palantir signed a $178 million contract with the U.S. Army to help develop a next-generation, field-deployable sensor station. Karp said Palantir conducted more than 660 bootcamps during the first quarter.

Persons: Alex Karp, Palantir, Karp Organizations: Russell Senate, LSEG, U.S . Army Locations: Washington ,

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