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☆ Johnson Controls CEO to retire after 'constructive' conversations with activist Elliott; shares surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Johnson Controls CEO George Oliver will retire from the top job at the industrial conglomerate, the company announced Wednesday morning, after "constructive dialogue" with Elliott Management, which amassed a stake in the company earlier this year. "I believe that now is the right time to begin the process of identifying the next leader of the new Johnson Controls," Oliver said in a release. Johnson Controls' shares surged more than 9% on the news in premarket trading Wednesday. The company also announced, with Elliott's blessing, that it would appoint former Xylem CEO Patrick Decker to its board effective immediately. Elliott's stake in the HVAC giant was worth more than $1 billion earlier this year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Persons: George Oliver, Johnson, Oliver, Patrick Decker, George, Elliott, Marc Steinberg, Steinberg, Elliott's Organizations: Johnson, Elliott Management, Johnson Controls, Bosch

☆ Rohan Bopanna’s path to the Olympics, via a Grand Slam and doubles world No 1
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

He needed to practice Iyengar yoga: a style that focuses on alignment. There, he came to know the father of Mahesh Bhupathi, one of India’s most successful players and a Grand Slam doubles champion. Polamarasetty told Bopanna that his knee wasn’t his problem. The kismet of Iyengar might have saved his knees, but none of the rest — the first Grand Slam title, the being doubles world No. Bopanna’s partner, Matwe Middelkoop, wanted to play with another Dutchman to better prepare for the Olympics and Davis Cup.

Persons: Rohan Bopanna’s, He’d, Matthew Ebden, Bopanna, Sriram Balaji, Fabien Reboul, Edouard Roger, Vasselin, Elsa, Getty, ” Bopanna, Rohan Bopanna, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, didn’t, Mohan Polamarasetty, Jaya, Polamarasetty, Iyengar, Mohan, “, ”, Bopanna’s, Clive Brunskill, Mahesh Bhupathi, Bhupathi, Boppanna, Haq Qureshi, Qureshi, Matthew Stockman, Prince Albert in, “ It’s, ” Polmarasetty, Max Purcell, Matwe Middelkoop, Ebden, Scott Davidoff, Supriya, Tridha, ” Davidoff, William West, Daniel Goldfarb, Shi Tang, Daniel Pockett Getty Organizations: All England Club, Olympics, Microsoft, University of Washington, Iyengar, Google, Jaya, Aisam, Getty, Pak Express, U.S ., Peace, Davis, Getty Images Locations: India, Coorg, Bangalore —, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Pakistan, South Asia, Prince Albert in Monaco, Australia, AFP

Wiz has walked away from a $23 billion deal to be acquired by Google, in what would have been the search giant's largest-ever deal, telling employees it would pursue an initial public offering as it initially planned. The deal would have nearly doubled the $12 billion valuation of the startup from its most recent round of funding. Alphabet's cloud segment has been under pressure to grow amid competition from frontrunners Microsoft and Amazon, something the Wiz deal would have helped with. The shift benefited Wiz, which can flag security issues for applications and data on the Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Oracle public clouds. In an interview with CNBC's Sara Eisen and Carl Quintanilla at the New York Stock Exchange last year, Eisen asked Rappaport if he wants to take the startup public.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Wiz, Assaf Rappaport, Rappaport, Thomas Kurian, Brendan Burke, It's, Doug Leone, Covid, Sid Trivedi, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Carl Quintanilla, Eisen Organizations: Alphabet Inc, Government, Society, Google, CNBC, Microsoft, Index Ventures, Insight Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia, PitchBook, Intuit, Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Wiz's, Wiz, Oracle, Foundation Capital, Motorola, Lenovo, New York Stock Exchange Locations: Stanford , California, Sequoia

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Biden drops out
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Starbucks stake Activist investor Elliott Management has taken a substantial stake in Starbucks and is engaging with management to boost the company's share price, according to the Wall Street Journal. Get the CNBC Daily Open report in your inbox every morning and keep up to date with the markets wherever you are. Big Tech faces the challenge of rekindling Wall Street's enthusiasm after a $900 billion tech rout.

Persons: haven't, Stephanie Pope, Max, Elliott Management, Laxman Narasimhan, Howard Schultz, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Elon Musk, Dan Ives, Lina Khan, Khan, Ives, CrowdStrike, Fred Imbert, —, Alex Harring, Jesse Pound, Kevin Williams, Leslie Josephs, Josie Rozzelle, Kevin Breuninger, Dan Mangan, Zev Fima, Spencer Kimball, Rohan Goswami Organizations: CNBC, Dow, Boeing, Farnborough, Wall Street, Starbucks, Trump, Microsoft, Securities, Big Tech, Google, Apple Locations: London, New York, New Delhi, Washington

Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in coffee chain Starbucks and is engaging with management to find ways to improve the company's share price, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The firm did not hold a Starbucks stake as of March 31, its most recent disclosure. In April, the company reported disappointing quarterly results, with U.S. same-store sales falling 3% and traffic dropping 7%. Starbucks reported rates of incomplete mobile app orders in the mid-teens and said occasional customers came in less often. Narasimhan was hand-picked by returnee Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to lead the company after his prior successor, Kevin Johnson, stepped down.

Persons: Elliott, Johnson, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Howard Schultz, Kevin Johnson, Schultz, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: Elliott Management, Wall Street, Starbucks, Southwest, Johnson Controls, Texas Instruments, Strategic, Center, U.S Locations: SoftBank

☆ Proxy advisor ISS says Masimo change is 'absolutely necessary' in brutal report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Joe Kiani, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Masimo; on Startup University Stage on day three of Collision 2024 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. Masimo under Kiani's leadership "has continued to display a dangerous lack of accountability to shareholders that will require additional board change to rectify," ISS wrote. By contrast, ISS wrote, Politan "has presented a logical plan" and nominees which "appear to be appropriate." ISS wrote that such threats were unacceptable. "Under no circumstances should shareholders ever abide ultimatums or threats from a CEO, at MASI or anywhere else," the proxy advisor wrote, referring to Masimo's stock ticker.

Persons: Joe Kiani, Masimo, Bill Jellison, Darlene Solomon, Glass Lewis, Kiani, Biden, Kiani's Organizations: Enercare, Services, CNBC, Politan Capital, ISS, Politan Locations: Toronto, Canada, MASI

☆ Activist investor Starboard says it's acquired 6.5% stake in Match Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Smith has been speaking with Match management about its plans, according to the letter, which was viewed by CNBC. In the letter, Smith wrote that Tinder enjoyed enviable and viral growth for years but has been stymied of late by sluggish innovation. But if Match is unable to more broadly turn around its business, the company should consider going private, Smith said. A Match spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the company is in communication with Starboard and other investors. Starboard isn't the first activist to put pressure on Match.

Persons: Jeff Smith, Starboard's Jeff Smith, Bernard Kim, Smith, Tinder, Kim, Anson, Elliott, Salesforce, Splunk Organizations: Bloomberg Television, CNBC, Wall Street, Zynga, Elliott Management, Autodesk, Cisco Locations: New York, U.S, Tinder, GoDaddy

The Macy's company logo is seen at the Macy's store on Herald Square on January 19, 2024 in New York City. Macy's department-store chain announced that they will be laying off roughly 2,350 employees which is about 3.5% of their workforce. Arkhouse and Brigade had for months been attempting to buy out the storied retailer. Arkhouse, after its initial efforts had been rebuffed, said earlier this year it intended to mount a proxy fight for control of Macy's. But the legacy department store operator's efforts to grow sales have been stymied by high inflation, as consumers become more selective about spending on discretionary items.

Persons: Michael M, Macy's, Macy, Paul Varga, Arkhouse, Tony Spring, It's, Maxx, Spring Organizations: Getty, Brigade, Target Locations: New York City, Macy's, Bloomingdale's

☆ Google reportedly in advanced talks to acquire cyber startup Wiz for $23 billion, its largest-ever deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. It had been eyeing an IPO as recently as May, when the company achieved a valuation of $12 billion. Google has made large cyber acquisitions before: The company acquired cybersecurity firm Mandiant for $5.4 billion two years ago. But its reported talks with Wiz would suggest that the company has developed a fresh appetite for M&A, competitive concerns notwithstanding. Google had been in talks to acquire sales software maker Hubspot, CNBC previously reported, but its pursuit had reportedly cooled.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Wiz, Assaf Rappaport Organizations: Alphabet Inc, Government, Society, Google, Street, Wiz, Ventures, Insight Partners, Sequoia Capital, CNBC Locations: Stanford , California

☆ This strategy can offer double-digit yields — at a cost
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

With tantalizing yields that can reach 10% or more, covered-call exchange-traded funds have become a popular investment. The result is income for investors, based on the option's premium, in return for capped upside if the option is exercised. The derivative income Morningstar category, dominated by covered-call ETFs, saw inflows of $24.3 billion over the past year, as of June. The largest actively-managed, covered-call ETF is the JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF , which has a 6.88% 30-day yield and an adjusted expense ratio of 0.35%. Investors should also be aware of the strategy being used by the fund managers, which will affect the upside potential and call premium.

Persons: Morningstar, Lan Anh Tran, Tran, JEPI, Rohan Reddy, Reddy, QYLD, XYLD, Rick Wedell, It's, Wedell, X's Reddy, erferring, Morningstar's Tran Organizations: Nasdaq, JPMorgan

☆ Proxy advisor backs activist Politan nominees in scathing Masimo report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis on Thursday recommended that shareholders of Masimo , the medical technology firm best known for its Apple Watch patent litigation, elect dissident Politan's two nominees, Bill Jellison and Darlene Solomon. Masimo's board includes Kiani, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Politan managing member Quentin Koffey, who overwhelmingly won the election last year. Glass Lewis tacitly endorsed that criticism in its report, writing that the company displayed "de minimus responsibility" and "poor governance." Alongside its larger peer Institutional Shareholder Services, though, Glass Lewis reports are considered highly important to passive investors. Glass Lewis responded to RTW with an offer to meet on July 8, shortly after Politan's allegations were publicized in an SEC filing.

Persons: Joe Kiani, Glass Lewis, Politan's, Bill Jellison, Darlene Solomon, Kiani, Bob Chapek, Quentin Koffey, Kiani —, Politan, Jellison, RTW, Christopher Chavez, RTW's Organizations: Enercare, Masimo, Apple Watch, CNBC, Disney, Services, ISS, Kiani, SEC Locations: Toronto, Canada, Solomon, Politan

☆ UiPath to lay off 10% of workforce in companywide restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Daniel Dines, Co-founder & CEO at UiPath addresses the audience during the third day of the Web Summit 2021 at Parque das Nacoes in Lisbon. UiPath , a developer of automation software, is cutting 10% of its workforce, or about 420 jobs, as part of a broader restructuring, the company said in filing with the SEC on Tuesday. Most of the layoffs will be implemented by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company said. UiPath shares dropped about 7% on Tuesday and have now lost more than half their value this year. UiPath said Tuesday that it expects to incur $15 million to $20 million in costs related to the layoffs, and total restructuring costs between $17 million and $25 million.

Persons: Daniel Dines, UiPath, Rob Enslin, — CNBC's Rohan Goswami Organizations: Parque das Nacoes, SEC, Nasdaq Locations: Lisbon, UiPath, U.S

☆ Southwest Airlines activist Elliott threatens proxy fight for new leadership
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

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.

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

☆ Southwest adds former US Airways CEO to board as it battles activist
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Southwest Airlines announced Monday that it's adding former US Airways CEO Rakesh Gangwal to its board of directors. The latest defensive maneuver aims to blunt Elliott's accusations that Southwest's board is long-tenured and insular. Gangwal was CEO of the now-defunct US Airways in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before founding Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo in 2006. Southwest announced the board expansion less than a week after it adopted a shareholder rights plan, limiting investors' ability to grow their stakes beyond a 12.5% threshold. Elliott is seeking the ouster of Kelly, Southwest's CEO before becoming executive chair, and Bob Jordan, who has served as Southwest's CEO since 2022.

Persons: Rakesh Gangwal, Elliott, Gangwal, Rakesh, Gary Kelly, Kelly, Bob Jordan, Jordan Organizations: Southwest Airlines, US, Elliott Management, US Airways, IndiGo, Southwest Locations: Asia

☆ Southwest Airlines shareholders puzzled by Elliott's activism can look to past campaigns for insight
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Rather than sparking typical cheer on Wall Street, Elliott's campaign, spelled out in a 50-page presentation, led to confusion and concern among investors and customers. Several activism experts pointed to two of Elliott's past targets for insight into the hedge fund's strategy for Southwest: Suncor Energy in 2022 and Marathon Petroleum in 2019. Elliott partner John Pike, who is now leading the Southwest campaign, was involved in the firm's actions at both energy companies. Pike and portfolio manager Bobby Xu are leading Elliott's Southwest campaign. But in 2018, a few months after reaching an agreement with Elliott, Marathon announced it was only getting bigger.

Persons: David Paul Morris, Elliott, Bob Jordan, Gary Kelly, Elliott hasn't, Southwest's, John Pike, Haviv Ilan, Marc Benioff, Jordan, Pike, Bobby Xu, Vinson, Elkins, Mark Little, Elliott's Pike, Suncor's, Little, Rich Kruger, Candace Elliott, Marathon, Weeks, Gary Heminger, Mike Hennigan, Hennigan, hasn't, It's, isn't, Kelly, it's, Xu, — CNBC's Leslie Josephs Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Oakland International Airport, Bloomberg, Getty, Elliott Management, Southwest, Melius Research, Suncor Energy, Marathon Petroleum, Marathon, Etsy . Texas, of America, Suncor's Petro, Canada, Canadian, Petro - Canada, Petro, Exxon Mobil, Reuters, Speedway, Elliott, Company, Heminger, Artisan Partners, Suncor, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, CNBC Locations: Oakland , California, Dallas, Suncor, New York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Etsy, Canada, Sherwood Park , Alberta, Marathon, Southwest

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 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

☆ 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

☆ Southwest CEO vows change as activist investor pushes for new leadership
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said the company is ready to adapt to changing customer trends like premium seating as pressure from an activist investor mounts. "We will adapt as our customers' needs adapt," Jordan said at an industry event hosted by Politico on Wednesday. Jordan's comments came two days after hedge fund Elliott Management disclosed a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest and said the carrier needs a new CEO and new chairman. Meanwhile, Jordan said Southwest has continued to work toward improving the customer experience. "It's been several years since we last studied this in-depth, and customer preferences and expectations change over time," an airline spokeswoman told CNBC.

Persons: Bob Jordan, Jordan, Jordan's, Elliott didn't, Elliott, It's, —, Rohan Goswami Organizations: Southwest, Politico, Elliott Management, Boeing, CNBC Locations: Southwest, Dallas, United States, Delta, U.S

☆ 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

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