Wall Street Journal (May 17)
“Activist investors, a perennial nuisance for chief executives, are becoming an existential threat. Since January, they have helped push out the leaders of three high-profile S&P 500 companies” (AIG, CSX Corp. and Arconic Inc.). Moreover, “they are gunning for the CEOs at other companies,” such as Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. and Avon Products Inc. “So far in 2017, activists have started nine campaigns targeting top management, the fastest pace on record.”
Wall Street Journal (May 11)
In the 1980s, they were called “corporate raiders” and frowned upon. Things have changed. “Warren Buffett is financing an unsolicited takeover bid for Avon Products” and the reaction is calm. There is now uproar. This is progress. “A thriving open market for corporate control imposes discipline on managers and can provide relief for long-suffering shareholders.”
Tags: Avon, Corporate raiders, Shareholders, Warren Buffet
