shareholder activism - imd.org

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Shareholder Activism Background Literature Review IMD: 35+ YEARS OF BOARD EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Prof. Dr. Didier Cossin & Dr. Jose Caballero July 2013 © IMD, All Rights Reserved

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Page 1: Shareholder Activism - imd.org

Shareholder Activism Background Literature Review

IMD: 35+ YEARS OF BOARD E D U C AT I O N E X P E R I E N C E

Prof. Dr. Didier Cossin & Dr. Jose CaballeroJuly 2013 © IMD, All Rights Reserved

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Background .......................................................................................................................5

The “Landscape” ...............................................................................................................5

Activists .....................................................................................................................5

Motivations ................................................................................................................5

Demands ...................................................................................................................6

Strategy .....................................................................................................................6

Firm Responses .......................................................................................................6

Impact .......................................................................................................................7

Lessons .....................................................................................................................7

Frequency, Objectives, Strategies and Success Rates of Activism .................................8

Activist Performance and Target-Firms Performance ................................................. 10

Appendix 1: References .................................................................................................. 12

Appendix 2: Selected Abstracts .................................................................................... 14

Table of Contents

3

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5

I. Background

Shareholder activism refers to the active influence on firm policy and practices through the use of ownership

position (Sjöström, 2008). It enables shareholders to exercise and enforce their rights to enhance shareholder

value in the long-term (Low, 2004). Activism can be conducted via direct dialogue with corporate management

or the board, during open sessions in corporate general meetings, writing open letters or by filing formal

shareholder proposals (Sjöström, 2008).

Activism can be “defensive” or “offensive” (Armour and Cheffins, 2012). Defensive activism takes place when

investors holding a stake in a company (e.g., pension funds and mutual funds) become dissatisfied with

corporate performance or corporate governance practices and thus react by lobbying for relevant changes.

This can be done behind the scenes or publicly challenging management; for example, activists can propose

the election of directors they support. This type is defensive in the sense that activist seek to protect pre-

existing investments. In offensive activism investors lacking a substantial stake in a company, build up their

holdings offensively on the assumption that organizational changes will overcome failures and, thus, maximize

shareholder returns. Investors will agitate for change if management does not react and take the initiative.

Shareholder activism follows evolutionary patterns (Graves et al., 2001). Issues can follow different paths over

time; some can arise and decline abruptly, others can remain substantially important without resolution or

disappearing over relatively long time. This pattern may depend on the shifting regulatory environment or on

factors that are internal to the company.

II. The “landscape”

Activists

Activism can be a single minority investor or a “block holder”, or they can be institutional investors with

majority stakes in the organization (Judge et al., 2010). Among the latter are pension funds, mutual funds and

hedge funds (Armour and Cheffins, 2012). In addition, labor unions and labor affiliated organizations can act

as shareholder activists (Prevost et al., 2012). Sovereign wealth funds act also as activists (Ghahramani, 2013).

In a wider environment, observers identify an “activist shareholder community” (Logsdon and Van Buren III,

2008). This is primarily composed of non-profit, nongovernmental organizations. This community advocates

for social issues, broadly defined, and it includes religious, environmental, labor organizations, and interest

groups. The aim of the community is to influence corporate behaviour.

Motivations

The motivation behind shareholder activism can be financially driven or socially driven (Judge et al., 2010). This

type of activism focuses on the financial performance of companies and seeks to pressure management for

an improved portfolio performance.

SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISM

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6

Financially motivated activists can be entrepreneurial (as elaborated by Klein and Zur, 2009). These activists

include asset management groups, hedge funds, private equity funds, and venture capital funds that are

differentiated by their investment strategies. Individual investors are also included among entrepreneurial

activists. Entrepreneurial activists “are independent from corporate and financial power structures.” Thus

they experience lower levels of risks in terms of economic or political reprisals. They are able to operate

through small entities, such as investment partnerships, which also limit their levels of risks and provide

them with significant control over the investment strategies they adopt. Entrepreneurial activists are “relatively

undiversified and can risk a relatively large proportion of [their] wealth on individual ventures ... are wholly

unrestricted in how they can invest in terms of diversification, illiquid assets, short-selling, and leverage.”

Moreover, they do not need to have the necessary capital to cover redemptions and they are able to restrict

investors if the latter attempt to exit their funds. Finally, entrepreneurial activists are exempt from disclosing

“their investment strategies, short-selling positions, or leverage ratios.” As a result, entrepreneurial activists

have employed “the stock-lending … or derivative markets … to acquire voting rights without owning a long

position in the company’s underlying stock.” This allows them to acquire voting rights in a target company to

support a threat of an imminent proxy fight.

Socially driven activism focuses on economic equity issues and seeks more justice in society; particularly, when

the latter aligns with the financial interests of the activist (Judge et al., 2010). CalPERS’ activism, for example,

advances in parallel a financial and a social agenda. Socially motivated activist may include the shareholder

community or non-profit nongovernmental groups including religious, environmental, labor organizations, and

interest groups that pursue social issues for principle-based purposes (Chung & Talaulicar, 2010).

Demands

Activists’ demands can be related to the company’s strategic direction and its alternatives. For example, the

sale of the company to a third parties, the firm’s operational inefficiency, and restructuring. Demands can also

be made about the company’s capital structure; for example, about dividend, debt restructuring, or the firm’s

recapitalization. Activists could also advocate opposition to proposed mergers. Antitakeover-related demands

could include a vote on golden parachutes. Demands can also focus on corporate governance matters such as

CEO dismissal, the separation of the CEO/Chairman’s roles, increase board independence, excessive executive

compensation and additional disclosure (see Gantchev, 2013; and Prevost et al., 2012).

Strategy

Some of the most influential activities are lobbying activities, and media and judicial activities (Girard, 2011).

For example, activists may seek media coverage of the issues that they advocate; judicially, activists can file

civil law suits or class actions.

Firm responses

Organization can react proactively and engage in a direct dialogue with activist groups. Companies can assume

an accommodative position in which the activists’ resolution is withdrawn because of the firm’s acquiesce to

demands for corporate policy or behavior changes. Others react defensively and allow the resolution go to a

vote by all shareholders. Finally, company can be reactive by requesting the omission of the resolution to the

relevant authority (e.g., the SEC) (see Logsdon and Buren, 2009; and Rehbein et al., 2013).

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Impact

Some observers are optimistic about the effectiveness of activism. Hedge fund activism, for example, has been

found to result in increased dividend pay-outs, and improve firm financial performance (Brav et al., 2008).

Other observers are inclined towards a sceptical position (Sjöström, 2008). Arguably, the effectiveness of the

impact of shareholder activism depends on the targeted company’s culture, the power and influence of the

activist group and the political climate in which the resolution is filed (Hoffman, 1996).

Lessons

On the one hand, companies may take two lessons from engaging activists in a direct dialogue (Logsdon &

Buren, 2009). First, engaging activists show that firms take seriously the concerns of their critics; and second,

mutual understanding and expertise can positively converge by participating in such dialogues. On the other

hand, activists assuming a conciliatory position may gain much because such stance allows them to focus on

the relevant corporate policies and behaviors while, at the same time, enables them to seek allies within the

targeted companies.

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8

III. Frequency, objectives, strategies and success rates of activism

Cziraki et al. (2010) compare the frequency of shareholder proposal submissions (1996 and 2005) in the UK,

Continental Europe and the USA. They find that “the number of proposals is 3-4 times as high in the USA per

publicly listed firm, and approximately twice as high per traded stock value and market capitalization”

(see Table 1).

Table 1: Shareholder proposals by geographic location and stock market size

Proposals per year

Region Year

Number

of proposals

Proposal per year

Per

listed company

Per USD trillion

of traded stock value

Per USD trillion of market

captitalisation

UK 1998-2008

362 32.9 0.0140 8.39 11.40

Continental Europe

2005-2008 358 89.5 0.0117 5.80 7.19

US∗ 1996-2005

2,792

279.2

0.0407

14.56

20.31

Source: Cziraki et al. (2010).

Judge et al. (2010), employing “shareholder activism” as keyword to conduct a search in the Dow Jones Factiva

database, trace the frequency of activism in ten major economies up to December 2008 (see Table 2).

Table 2: Shareholder activism reports in ten major economies

Country GDP (in millions USD)

Frequency of activism incidents

Percentage of activism incidents

USA $ 13,811,200 4,752 51.8% UK $ 2,727,806 2,326 25.3% Australia $ 821,716 476 5.2% Japan $ 4,376,705 452 4.9% Canada $ 1,326,376 320 3.5% Germany $ 3,297,233 205 2.2% Netherlands $ 754,203 197 2.1% South Korea $ 969,795 179 1.9% France $ 2,562,288 147 1.6% India $ 1,170,968 128 1.4% Total: $ 31,818,290 9,182 100.0%

Source: Judge et al. (2010).

Brav et al. (2009) present the activist hedge funds’ stated objectives and the rate of success of those interventions

for the period 2001-2007 (see Table 3). Partial success refers to situation in which the stated goal of hedge

funds is partially met. Similarly, Gantchev (2013) presents the rate of activism’s success by demands for the

period 2000-2007 (see Table 4). Brav et al. (2009) also present the tactics that hedge funds employ in these

interventions (see Table 5).

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9

Table 3: Summary of activism by hedge funds’ stated objective

All events Hostile events Non-hostile events

Objective categories

Num of

events (1)

% of Sample

(2)

% Success

(3)

% Partial success

(4)

Num of Hostile events

(5)

% Success

(6)

% Partial success

(7)

% Success

(8)

% Partial success

(9) 1. General undervaluation/ maximize shareholder value

561 47.9% — — — — — — —-

2. Capital structure 204 17.4% 26.5% 25.5% 102 18.6% 43.1% 34.3% 7.8% 3. Business strategy 270 23.0% 30.7% 22.2% 136 23.5% 39.0% 38.1% 5.2% 4. Sale of target company 235 20.1% 29.8% 20.4% 142 27.5% 27.5% 33.3% 9.7% 5. Governance 284 24.2% 29.2% 28.9% 187 26.7% 37.4% 34.0% 12.4% Sum of Categories (2)–(5) 611 52.1% 31.3% 21.1% 310 26.5% 34.2% 36.2% 7.6%

Source: Brav et al. (2009)

Table 4: Success rate of activism (by demand)

Number of % of Successful % Success

Primary activist demands campaigns Sample campaigns rate

1. Strategic direction & alternatives 280 55.56 96 34.29 – Sale of company to a third party 159 31.55 51 32.08 – Operational inefficiency; restructuring 69 13.69 24 34.78 – Activist bid to take target private 52 10.52 21 40.38

2. Capital structure 100 19.84 20 20.00 – Dividends/repurchases/excess cash 78 15.48 13 16.67 – Recapitalization/debt restructuring 22 4.37 7 31.82

3. Opposition to a proposed merger 63 12.50 18 28.57

4. Corporate governance 61 12.10 13 21.31 – Remove CEO; separate CEO/Chairman 27 5.36 5 18.52 – Excessive executive compensation 20 3.97 3 15.00 – Additional disclosure; possible fraud 14 2.78 5 35.71

Overall success rate 504 100 173 29.17

Source: Gantchev (2013)

Table 5: Summary of hedge funds’ tactics

Tactic categories % Of all events

1. The hedge fund intends to communicate with the board/management on a regular basis with the goal of enhancing shareholder value 51.20%

2. The hedge fund seeks board representation without a proxy contest or confrontation with the existing management/board 11.90%

3. The hedge fund makes formal shareholder proposals, or publicly criticizes the company and demands change 35.10%

4. The hedge fund threatens to wage a proxy fight in order to gain board representation, or to sue the company for breach of fiduciary duty, etc. 7.30%

5. The hedge fund launches a proxy contest in order to replace the board 13.10%

6. The hedge fund sues the company 4.70%

7. The hedge fund intends to take control of the company, for example, with a takeover bid 4.60%

Source: Brav et al. (2009).

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10

IV. Activist performance and target-firms performance

Clifford (2008) argues that to trace the blockholders’ gains from activism, it is useful to calculate the “the raw

holding period return to the hedge fund for both its activist and passivist blockholdings.” He identifies 433

passive and 226 active blockholdings, and concludes that his findings as “a cursory look” into the returns from

activism provide evidence that blockholders earn larger returns on their activist holdings than those gained by

their passive holdings (see Table 6).

Table 6: Returns to blockholder

Filing type Mean Median

Panel A: holding period returns from entry date to exit date

13D 67.80%*** 32.19%***

N 226

13G 35.82%*** 10.44%***

N 433

Difference 31.98%*** 21.75%***

Panel B: holding period returns using 1-year holding period

13D 21.27%*** 10.26%***

N 666

13G 12.68%*** 3.77%***

N 1031

Difference 8.59%*** 6.49%***

Panel C: holding period returns using last trade price if no sale date given

13D 50.01%*** 21.02%***

N 666

13G 28.59%*** 7.31%***

N 1031

Difference 21.42%*** 13.71%***

Source: Clifford (2008)Variables:“13D” is a schedule filed with the SEC by investors with specific plans to influence the firm, or, have plans of influencing the firm or its management in the future, these are classified as active investors; “13G”is a schedule filed with the SEC by investors, who attest that they have purchased the shares for investment purposes only, with no intent to affect the firm or its management, these are considered passive; “N” refers to the total number of filings; “difference” refers to the difference between means of active and passive blocks, and also to the difference between medians of active and passive blocks. *, **, *** correspond to p-values of 10%, 5%, and 1% level, respectively.

In terms of the effect of activism on firm performance, Brav et al. (2009) indicate that hedge funds are effective

at influencing corporate policies and improving corporate governance. They conclude that “hedge fund activism

has been successful in improving operating performance, increasing payouts, and reducing agency costs. It is

associated with an almost immediate increase in payout and heightened discipline of the CEO” (see Table 7).

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11

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28

Tabl

e 7:

Tar

get f

irm

per

form

ance

bef

ore

and

afte

r he

dge

fund

act

ivis

m

Sour

ce: B

rav

et a

l. (2

009)

.“V

aria

bles

: RO

A” is

the

ret

urn

on a

sset

s, d

efin

ed a

s EB

ITD

A/la

gged

ass

ets;

“q”

is d

efin

e as

(boo

k va

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ebt

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arke

t va

lue

of e

quity

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ook

valu

e of

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t +

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val

ue o

f eq

uity

); “P

AYYL

D”

is d

efin

ed a

s (d

ivid

end

+sha

re r

epur

chas

e)/(

mar

ket

valu

e of

equ

ity);

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INI”

is a

dum

my

vari

able

for

an

initi

atio

n of

div

iden

d pa

yout

dur

ing

the

year

; “N

ETLE

V” is

def

ined

as

(deb

t −

cash

)/(d

ebt

+ bo

ok v

alue

of

equi

ty);

“ALT

MAN

” is

Alt

man

’s (1

968)

Z-s

core

whi

ch p

roxi

es fo

r th

e ba

nkru

ptcy

ris

k; “

DtD

” is

the

dis

tanc

e to

def

ault

, whi

ch m

easu

res

the

num

ber

of s

tand

ard

devi

atio

n de

crea

ses

in f

irm

val

ue b

efor

e th

e fir

m is

in

defa

ult b

ased

on

Mer

ton’

s (1

974)

bon

d-pr

icin

g m

odel

; “C

EOTU

RN

OVE

R”

is th

e ra

te o

f CEO

turn

over

; “C

EOPA

Y” is

the

tota

l CEO

con

trac

ted

pay

incl

udin

g op

tions

val

ued

at g

rant

ing

(“TD

C1”

from

Exe

cuC

omp)

; “P

ay-f

or-P

erfo

rman

ce”

is t

he p

erce

ntag

e of

CEO

tak

e-ho

me

pay

(incl

udin

g op

tion

exer

cise

) tha

t co

mes

fro

m e

quity

-bas

ed in

cent

ive.

*, *

*, a

nd *

** in

dica

te s

tatis

tical

sig

nific

ance

at

the

10, 5

, and

1%

leve

ls.

Page 12: Shareholder Activism - imd.org

12

Appendix 1: References

Armour, J., & Cheffins, B. (2012). The Rise and Fall (?) of Shareholder Activism by Hedge Funds. Journal of

Alternative Investments, 14(3), 17-27.

Brav, A., Jiang, W., & Kim, H. (2009). Hedge Fund Activism: A Review. Foundations and Trends in Finance, 4(3),

185–246.

Brav, A., Jiang, W., Partnoy, F., & Thomas, R. (2008). Hedge Fund Activism, Corporate Governance, and Firm

Performance. Journal of Finance, 63(4), 1729-1775.

Cai, J., & Walkling, R. A. (2011). Shareholders’ Say on Pay: Does It Create Value? Journal of Financial &

Quantitative Analysis, 46(2), 299-339.

Chung, H., & Talaulicar, T. (2010). Forms and Effects of Shareholder Activism. Corporate Governance: An

International Review, 253–257.

Clifford, C. P. (2008). Value creation or destruction? Hedge funds as shareholder activists. Journal of Corporate

Finance, 14(4), 323–336.

Cohn, J. B., & Rajan, U. (2013). Optimal Corporate Governance in the Presence of an Activist Investor. Review

of Financial Studies, 26(4), 985-1020.

Cziraki, P., Renneboog, L., & Szilagyi, P. G. (2010). Shareholder Activism through Proxy Proposals: The European

Perspective. European Financial Management, 16(5), 738–777.

de Bakker, F. G., & den Hond, F. (2008). Introducing the Politics of Stakeholder Influence: A Review Essay.

Business & Society, 47(1), 8-20.

Gantchev, N. (2013). The costs of shareholder activism: Evidence from a sequential decision model. Journal of

Financial Economics, 107(3), 610–631.

Ghahramani, S. (2013). Sovereign wealth funds and shareholder activism: applying the Ryan-Schneider

antecedents to determine policy implications. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Effective

Board Performance, 13(1), 58-69.

Gillan, S. L., & Starks, L. T. (2007). The Evolution of Shareholder Activism in the United States. Journal of

Applied Corporate Finance, 19(1), 55-73.

Girard, C. (2011). Success of Shareholder Activism: The French Case. Bankers, Markets & Investors, 115, 26-

36.

Graves, S. B., Rehbein, K., & Waddock, S. (2001). Title: Fad and Fashion in Shareholder Activism: The Landscape

of Shareholder Resolutions, 1988–1998. Business & Society Review, 106(4), 293-314.

Helwege, J., Intintoli, V. J., & Zhang, A. (2012). Voting with their feet or activism? Institutional investors’ impact

on CEO turnover. Journal of Corporate Finance, 18, 22-37.

Hoffman, A. (1996). A strategic response to investor activism. Sloan Management Review, 37(2), 51-64.

Judge, W. Q., Gaur, A., & Muller-Kahle, M. (2010). Antecedents of Shareholder Activism in Target Firms:

Evidence from a Multi-Country Study. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 18(4), 258-273.

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Klein, A., & Zur, E. (2009). Entrepreneurial Shareholder Activism: Hedge Funds and Other Private Investors.

Journal of Finance, 64(1), 187-229.

Logsdon, J. M., & Van Buren III, H. J. (2008). Justice and Large Corporations: What Do Activist Shareholders

Want? Business & Society, 47(4), 523 -548.

Logsdon, J., & Buren, H. (2009). Beyond the Proxy Vote: Dialogues Between Shareholder Activists and

Corporations. Journal of Business Ethics, 87, 353-365.

Low, C. K. (2004). A Road Map for Corporate Governance in East Asia. Northwestern Journal of International

Business Law, 25, 165-203.

Martin, R., & Nisar, T. M. (2007). Activist investment: institutional investor monitoring of portfolio companies.

Management Decision, 45(5), 827-840.

O’Rourke, A. (2003). A new politics of engagement: shareholder activism for corporate social responsibility.

Business Strategy and the Environment, 12(4), 227.

Parrino, R., Sias, R. W., & Starks, L. T. (2003). Voting with their feet: institutional ownership changes around

forced CEO turnover. Journal of Financial Economics, 68(1), 3–46.

Prevost, A. K., Rao, R. P., & Williams, M. A. (2012). Labor Unions as Shareholder Activists: Champions or

Detractors? Financial Review, 47(2), 327-349.

Rehbein, K., Logsdon, J., & Buren, H. (2013). Corporate Responses to Shareholder Activists: Considering the

Dialogue Alternative. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(1), 137-154.

Schaefer, H., & Hertrich, C. (2013). Shareholder Activism in Germany: An Empirical Study. IUP Journal of

Corporate Governance, 12(2), 28-39.

Schneider, M., & Ryan, L. (2011). A review of hedge funds and their investor activism: do they help or hurt other

equity investors? Journal of Management & Governance, 15(3), 349-374.

Sjöström, E. (2008). Shareholder activism for corporate social responsibility: what do we know? Sustainable

Development, 16(3), 141-154.

Waldron, T. L., Navis, C., & Fisher, G. (2013). Explaining Differences in Firms’ Responses to Activism. Academy

of Management Review, 38(3), 397-417.

Wu, Y. (2004). The impact of public opinion on board structure changes, director career progression, and CEO

turnover: Evidence from CalPERS’ corporate governance program. Journal of Corporate Finance, 10(1),

199–227.

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Appendix 2: Selected abstracts

Source Business Strategy and the Environment12.4 (Jul/Aug 2003): 227

Article A new politics of engagement: shareholder activism for corporate social responsibility

Authors O’Rourke, Anastasia

Abstract Shareholder groups are increasingly going beyond the decision to invest, not to invest, or

to divest by proposing and voting on company specific corporate social responsibility (CSR)

issues at annual shareholder meetings. This activity is joined by an increasingly sophisticated

‘strategy of engagement’ by both shareholders and companies. In the process, a model of

investor capitalism based on ‘responsible ownership’ is being forged that addresses social

and environmental issues previously outside the domain of most shareholders. This paper

traces a historical perspective on the growth and spread of shareholder activism, describes

the key actors currently involved in this activity, illustrates the CSR issues being raised,

explains the process of preparing resolutions and entering into dialogue, assesses some of

the results gained so far and lays a conceptual foundation to help analyse the effectiveness

of shareholder activism and assess the viability of models of ‘shareholder democracy’.

Source Journal of Finance. Feb2009, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p187-229

Article Entrepreneurial Shareholder Activism: Hedge Funds and Other Private Investors.

Authors Klein, April; Zur, Emanuel

Abstract We examine recent confrontational activism campaigns by hedge funds and other private

investors. The main parallels between the groups are a significantly positive market reaction

for the target firm around the initial Schedule 13D filing date, significantly positive returns over

the subsequent year, and the activist’s high success rate in achieving its original objective.

Further, both activists frequently gain board representation through real or threatened proxy

solicitations. Two major differences are that hedge funds target more profitable firms than

other activists, and hedge funds address cash flow agency costs whereas other private

investors change the target’s investment strategies.

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Source Corporate Governance: An International Review. Jul2010, Vol. 18 Issue 4, p258-273

Article Antecedents of Shareholder Activism in Target Firms: Evidence from a Multi-Country Study

Authors Judge, William Q.; Gaur, Ajai; Muller-Kahle, Maureen

Abstract Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: This study seeks to better understand

the antecedents of shareholder activism targeted at firms located in three common law

countries (i.e., USA, UK, and Australia) and three civil law countries (Japan, Germany, and

South Korea) during the 2003–07 time period. Research Findings/Insights: Our findings

suggest that the antecedents of shareholder activism vary by the motivation of the activist.

We demonstrate that activists target firms with two motives (a) to improve the financial

performance, and (b) to improve the social performance of the firm. With respect to the

target firm level antecedents, we find that firm size is unrelated to financial activism, but

positively related to social activism; ownership concentration is negatively related to both

financial and social activism; and prior profitability is negatively related to financial activism,

but positively related to social activism. Further, these relationships in the case of financial

activism are generally stronger in common law legal systems, whereas those in the case

of social activism are generally stronger in environments with a greater level of income

inequality. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our findings suggest that future research

should differentiate between the motivations of the activism event. Further, we find that

while agency logic works well for financial activism, institutional theory provides stronger

explanations for social activism. Overall, we demonstrate the complementary nature of

these two theories in explaining shareholder activism. Practitioner/Policy Implications: We

found that the “exposure” to shareholder activism varies by the motivation of the activist, and

the nature of the firm and its national context. An understanding of these issues would help

firms develop proper response strategies to activism events

Source Business & Society 2008 47 (4) 523 -548

Article Justice and Large Corporations: What Do Activist Shareholders Want?

Authors Logsdon, Jeanne M.; Van Buren III, Harry J.

Abstract Shareholder resolutions filed by socially concerned investors are a rich and underused source

of data for research in social issues in the business and society field. This article examines

how shareholder activists use the resolution process to advocate for issues related to social

justice and corporate activities. After briefly reviewing the justice and shareholder activism

literatures, the authors report the results of a study of 1,719 shareholder resolutions filed

during the 1999–2005 period by members and affiliates of the Interfaith Center on Corporate

Responsibility, a coalition of approximately 275 religious organizations and other partners

that seeks to use their investments to achieve social change. Among the findings is that the

majority of justice-related resolutions dealt with employment and economic development

issues. The authors conclude with a discussion of implications for corporate managers,

shareholder activists, and management researchers.

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Source Financial Review. May2012, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p327-349

Article Labor Unions as Shareholder Activists: Champions or Detractors?

Authors Prevost, Andrew K.; Rao, Ramesh P.; Williams, Melissa A.

Abstract We examine the impact of labor union shareholder activism through the submission of

shareholder proposals during the period 1988-2002. We examine the effect of labor union-

sponsored shareholder proposals on announcement period returns; on the corporate

governance environment of the firm including shareholder rights, board composition, and

CEO compensation; on changes in unionization rates and labor expense; and on long-

run shareholder wealth. We do not find any observable patterns for the overall sample of

proposals. However, subsets of proposals associated with union presence at the target

firm and shareholder voting support for the proposal are associated with significant effects

surrounding and subsequent to targeting

Source Management Decision, 2007, Vol. 45 Iss: 5 pp. 827 - 840

Article Activist investment: institutional investor monitoring of portfolio companies

Authors Martin, Roderick; Nisar, Tahir M.

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to show what Asset managers undertake to operate

in accordance with the Statement of Institutional Shareholders’ Committee (ISC) whenever

they engage with portfolio companies on behalf of their institutional investor clients. The

Statement (2002) states that institutional shareholders have a responsibility to make

considered use of their votes, and to enter into a dialogue with companies based on the

mutual understanding of objectives.

Design/methodology/approach – A survey study of Asset managers was conducted to

evaluate their adherence to the ISC Principles. Findings – The findings in the paper show

that fund managers routinely analyse information concerning those companies in which they

invest, and have meetings with company managers. Managers are also involved in activities

to promote standards of corporate governance and corporate accountability. It is also found

that managers’ experience in managing deal flows, funds’ specialization and engagement

specialists are the key drivers of adherence to the ISC Principles.

Originality/value – The paper highlights the importance of specific fund capabilities for

monitoring and controlling portfolio companies.

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Source Business & Society, Volume 47 Number 1, March 2008, 8-20

Article Introducing the Politics of Stakeholder Influence: A Review Essay

Authors de Bakker, Frank G. A.; den Hond, Frank

Abstract If stakeholder theory is to become a full theory of business–society relationships, it will

have to develop a better understanding of processes by which stakeholders may gain and

hold influence over firms. A better understanding of the political processes involved is

required. This paper—as well as the papers in this special issue—takes a political ‘view’

to addressing the issue, and thereby extends the currently dominant demographic and

structural approaches. It suggests that the influence of stakeholders over firms is the

temporary outcome of processes of action, reaction, and interaction among various parties.

Consequently, the further advancement of stakeholder theory would benefit from the

adoption of process-research methods and thinking.

Source Journal of Financial Economics, Volume 107, Issue 3, March 2013, Pages 610–631

Article The costs of shareholder activism: Evidence from a sequential decision model

Authors Gantchev, Nickolay

Abstract This paper provides benchmarks for monitoring costs and evaluates the net returns

to shareholder activism. I model activism as a sequential decision process consisting of

demand negotiations, board representation, and proxy contest and estimate the costs of

each activism stage. A campaign ending in a proxy fight has average costs of $10.71 million.

I find that the estimated monitoring costs reduce activist returns by more than two-thirds.

The mean net activist return is close to zero but the top quartile of activists earns higher

returns on their activist holdings than on their non-activist investments. The large-sample

evidence presented in this paper aids in understanding the nature and evolution of activist

engagements.

Source Academy of Management Review. Jul2013, Vol. 38 Issue 3, p397-417

Article Explaining Differences in Firms’ Responses to Activism

Authors Waldron, Theodore L.; Navis, Chad; Fisher, Greg

Abstract Activist campaigns describe efforts to modify socially or environmentally detrimental industry

practices by contesting prominent industry members’ versions of those practices (i.e., target

firms). We adopt a socio-cognitive perspective to account for variance in when and how the

managers of target and non-target firms attend to, interpret, and respond to pressure from

activists. Overall, we enhance theory by explaining why firms in an industry differ in their

reactions to activism, even when they are subject to common campaigns and strategies.

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Source IUP Journal of Corporate Governance. Apr2013, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p28-39

Article Shareholder Activism in Germany: An Empirical Study

Authors Schaefer, Henry; Hertrich, Christian

Abstract Germany is the largest economy in Europe and yet there has been very little research in

the area of shareholder activism. The main objective of this research paper is to discuss

shareholder activism for DAX 30 companies. The paper provides the most recent empirical

evidence that formal activism in Germany remains a relatively ineffective instrument for

shareholder engagement, in contrast to research findings for the US and UK financial

markets. The study has used all publicly available information from various sources and

represents as of today one of the most extensive research analyses for shareholder activism

in Germany.

Source Journal of Business Ethics. Jan2013, Vol. 112 Issue 1, p137-154

Article Corporate Responses to Shareholder Activists: Considering the Dialogue Alternative

Authors Rehbein, Kathleen; Logsdon, Jeanne ; Buren, Harry

Abstract This empirical study examines corporate responses to activist shareholder groups filing

social-policy shareholder resolutions. Using resource dependency theory as our conceptual

framing, we identify some of the drivers of corporate responses to shareholder activists.

This study departs from previous studies by including a fourth possible corporate response,

engaging in dialogue. Dialogue, an alternative to shareholder resolutions filed by activists, is

a process in which corporations and activist shareholder groups mutually agree to engage

in ongoing negotiations to deal with social issues. Based on a unique dataset of resolutions

filed by member organizations of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility from 2002

to 2005 and the outcomes of these resolutions, our analysis finds that corporate managers

are more likely to engage in dialogue with shareholder activists when the firm is larger, is

more responsive to stakeholders, the CEO is the board chair, and the firm has a relatively

lower percentage of institutional investors

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Source Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Effective Board Performance. 2013, Vol.

13 Issue 1, p58-69

Article Sovereign wealth funds and shareholder activism: applying the Ryan-Schneider antecedents

to determine policy implications

Authors Ghahramani, Salar

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the propensity of sovereign wealth funds

(SWFs) for shareholder activism and their potential impact on corporate governance.

Design/methodology/approach – The study highlights the relationships between SWFs and

corporate governance and also applies eight antecedents/determinants of institutional

activism to analyze whether SWFs have a predisposition for shareholder activism.

Findings – The study only finds two instances of SWF activism. Additionally, it finds that

despite their mostly passive investments, SWFs possess a natural tendency toward

shareholder activism. Some are more likely to engage in activism than others, however.

SWFs with a higher proportion of their assets invested in equities, those with portfolios fully

or partially constructed to emulate the broader financial markets through indexing, and

those that depend less on external fund managers are the likeliest candidates for activism.

The study also finds that the regulatory environment can curb the natural SWF inclination

for activist behavior.

Research limitations/implications – Due to the lack of transparency within the SWF universe,

this study largely depends on the limited data available for sovereign wealth funds.

Practical implications – Given the growing importance of SWFs, managers, directors, and

policymakers must assess SWF activism, its influence on corporate governance, and its

implications for public policy deliberations.

Originality/value – This project, to the best of the author’s knowledge, is the first study that

applies tested financial models to SWFs in order to determine if they have inherent activist

tendencies.

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Source Journal of Alternative Investments. Winter2012, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p17-27

Article The Rise and Fall (?) of Shareholder Activism by Hedge Funds

Authors Armour, John; Cheffins, Brian

Abstract Shareholder activism by hedge funds became a major corporate governance phenomenon

in the United States in the 2000s. This article puts the trend into context by introducing a

heuristic device referred to as “the market for corporate influence” to distinguish the ex-

ante-oriented “offensive” brand of activism hedge funds engage in from the ex-post-oriented

“defensive” activism carried out by mutual funds and pension funds. This article traces the

rise of hedge fund activism and anticipates future developments, arguing in so doing that

despite the blow the 2008 financial crisis dealt to hedge funds, their interventions will remain

an important element of U.S. corporate governance going forward.

Source Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis. Apr2011, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p299-339

Article Shareholders’ Say on Pay: Does It Create Value?

Authors Cai, Jie; Walkling, Ralph A.

Abstract Congress and activists recently proposed giving shareholders a say (vote) on executive pay. We

find that when the House passed the Say-on-Pay Bill, the market reaction was significantly

positive for firms with high abnormal chief executive officer (CEO) compensation, with low

pay-for-performance sensitivity, and responsive to shareholder pressure. However, activist-

sponsored say-on-pay proposals target large firms, not those with excessive CEO pay, poor

governance, or poor performance. The market reacts negatively to labor-sponsored proposal

announcements and positively when these proposals are defeated. Our findings suggest that

say-on-pay creates value for companies with inefficient compensation but can destroy value

for others.

Source Journal of Management & Governance. Aug2011, Vol. 15 Issue 3, p349-374

Article A review of hedge funds and their investor activism: do they help or hurt other equity

investors?

Authors Schneider, Marguerite; Ryan, Lori

Abstract Hedge funds tend to be highly activist investors who exercise their ‘principal power’ over their

portfolio firms. We observe that, compared to other investor types, hedge funds appear to be

even more activist than is predicted by a comprehensive Investor Activism Model, due to the

unexpectedly large role of several antecedent variables. This conclusion suggests that the

relatively lightly regulated environment of hedge funds affects the weighting of conventional

activism-antecedent variables. We explore how their access to several investing and trading

strategies is allowing hedge funds to redefine investor activism. In the process, we find that,

while hedge funds and their activism tend to benefit fellow investors, the potential exists for

some specific hedge fund types to expropriate value from minority shareholders, creating

‘principal-principal’ conflict. The potentially detrimental impact of hedge fund activism on

other equity investors is demonstrated, illuminating several current policy concerns

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Source Review of Financial Studies. Apr2013, Vol. 26 Issue 4, p985-1020

Article Optimal Corporate Governance in the Presence of an Activist Investor

Authors Cohn, Jonathan B.; Rajan, Uday

Abstract We provide a model of governance in which a board arbitrates between an activist investor

and a manager facing reputational concerns. The optimal level of internal board governance

depends on both the severity of the agency conflict and the strength of external governance.

Internal governance creates a certification effect, so greater intervention by the board

can lead to worse managerial behavior. Internal and external governance are substitutes

when external governance is weak (the board commits to an interventionist policy to induce

participation from the activist) and complements when external governance is strong (the

board relies to a greater extent on the activist’s information).

Source Bankers, Markets & Investors. nov/dec2011, Issue 115, p26-36

Article Success of Shareholder Activism: The French Case

Authors Girard, Carine

Abstract This aim of this study is to distinguish which features of shareholder activism lead to a

successful outcome in the French context. Shareholder activism is considered herein as a

process consisting of a series of influential activities. We examine cases of confrontational

activity from the point at which the conflict first becomes the object of media attention. Using

data collected in the French financial press from January 1989 to June 2008, we look at

the cases of 203 French corporations which have been the target of criticism on the part

of activist shareholders. To gain an accurate measure of success in French shareholder

activism processes we examine to what extent shareholders have been able to achieve their

objectives, and what degree of influential activity has been involved. Our results reveal,

throughout the period studied, a striking correlation between successful outcomes and the

most confrontational influential degree: the law suit. We also observe that, since the changes

in the French activist landscape brought about by a legal enforcement of minority rights in

2001, the involvement both of activist institutional investors and proxy professionals has also

been significant factor of success.

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Source Business & Society Review, Winter2001, Vol. 106 Issue 4, p293

Article Fad and Fashion in Shareholder Activism: The Landscape of Shareholder Resolutions, 1988–

1998

Authors Graves, Samuel B.; Rehbein, Kathleen; Waddock, Sandra

Abstract Examines the changes in corporate ethics and shareholder resolutions. Ethical implications

of shareholder resolutions on corporate governance; Relationship of activism to governance

and social performance; identification of trends in social policy

Source Journal of Business Ethics, Jul2009 Supplement 1, Vol. 87, p353-365

Article Beyond the Proxy Vote: Dialogues Between Shareholder Activists and Corporations

Authors Logsdon, Jeanne; Buren, Harry

Abstract The popular view of shareholder activism focuses on shareholder resolutions and the

shareholder vote via proxy statements at the annual meeting, which is treated as a “David

vs. Goliath” showdown between the small group of socially responsible investors and the

powerful corporation. This article goes beyond the popular view to examine where the

real action typically occurs – in the Dialogue process where corporations and shareholder

activist groups mutually agree to ongoing communications to deal with a serious social

issue. Use of the capitalized word “Dialogue” is intended to distinguish this formal process

between corporations and shareholders from all the other forms of dialogue or two-way

communication exchanged between a corporation and its stakeholders. The phenomenon

of Dialogue between a corporation and dissident shareholders has not been analyzed in

the academic literature or in the popular press because it occurs behind the scenes and

out of sight from media scrutiny. Yet this is where a great deal of social change initiated by

shareholder activists is negotiated. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically

to the study of Dialogues between shareholder activists and corporations. We explain how

Dialogues occur in the context of the shareholder resolution process and examine two

Dialogues that focus on international labor issues in two industries. Then data on Dialogues

during the period, 1999–2005, from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are

analyzed. This research contributes to knowledge about the Dialogue process and the

emerging literature on corporation–stakeholder engagement.

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Source Northwestern Journal of International Business Law, 25 (2004), pp. 165-203

Article A Road Map for Corporate Governance in East Asia

Authors Low, C.K

Abstract Much has transpired since the inadequacies of corporate governance practices in East Asia

were glaringly exposed by the Asian financial crisis. The crisis brought to the foreground

numerous deficiencies, which had common roots in excessive over-leverage as well as

the lack of transparency, disclosure and accountability. These issues have been explicitly

recognized with the release of the White Paper on Corporate Governance in Asia by the Asian

Roundtable on Corporate Governance in June 2003.

By responding in part to the White Paper, this article sets out a “roadmap” whose ultimate

objective is the enhancement of the practice of corporate governance in three jurisdictions,

namely Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. These countries are selected as proxies for the

region with the choice premised upon their common legal framework, which emphasizes the

rule of law, the liquidity of their capital markets and the high mobility of capital without the

imposition of any controls. By setting up a roadmap couched in broad principles as regards

the roles and duties of directors, shareholders and regulators, this paper seeks to provide

some ideas that have the distinct advantage of adaptability across jurisdictions thereby

transcending the cultural divide of the East Asian region.

Source Sustainable Development. May/Jun2008, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p141-154

Article Shareholder activism for corporate social responsibility: what do we know?

Authors Sjöström, Emma

Abstract There is a growing body of research on shareholder activism for corporate social and

environmental responsibility. This paper maps and synthesizes research on this topic during

1983–2007. Five key themes emerge. (1) Several studies address shareholder proposals in

the US, including proposal topics, voting results, and typical targets for such activism. (2)

Other studies focus on the effects of shareholder activism on corporate policy and practice.

Further, studies have been conducted on shareholder activism by (3) NGOs, (4) unions and

(5) pension funds respectively. Based on this review, missing perspectives are identified and

suggestions are made for future research directions.

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Source Journal of Finance. Aug2008, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p1729-1775

Article Hedge Fund Activism, Corporate Governance, and Firm Performance

Authors Brav, Alon; Jiang, Wei; Partnoy, Frank; Thomas, Randall

Abstract Using a large hand-collected data set from 2001 to 2006, we find that activist hedge funds in

the United States propose strategic, operational, and financial remedies and attain success

or partial success in two-thirds of the cases. Hedge funds seldom seek control and in most

cases are nonconfrontational. The abnormal return around the announcement of activism

is approximately 7%, with no reversal during the subsequent year. Target firms experience

increases in payout, operating performance, and higher CEO turnover after activism. Our

analysis provides important new evidence on the mechanisms and effects of informed

shareholder monitoring.

Source Sloan Management Review, 1996, 37(2), 51-64.

Article A strategic response to investor activism

Authors Hoffman, Andrew

Abstract How can a corporate executive balance social and economic pressures when social activists

and corporate investors are tile same people? This is the quandary Amoco Corporation faced

when investors repeatedly filed proxy resolutions requesting adoption of the Valdez Principles,

ten environmental principles developed by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible

Economies (CERES). The author describes the evolution of the relationship between CERES

and Amoco. He shows how Amoco responded strategically to investor activism with corporate

activism. He also discusses the three factors determining a company’s response to investor

activism: the firm’s culture, the power and influence of the group filing the resolution, and the

political climate in which the resolution is filed. Ultimately, responding to investor activism

becomes an important aspect of integrating political strategy into competitive strategy.

Source Journal of Applied Corporate Finance. Winter2007, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p55-73

Article The Evolution of Shareholder Activism in the United States

Authors Gillan, Stuart L.; Starks, Laura T.

Abstract The authors present a history of shareholders’ activism in the United States. They reveal that

investor activism in the form of shareholder proposals has been the domain of individual

shareholders and religious groups. They state that the potential to enhance the value of

their investments has been the main motive for investors’ activism in the monitoring of

corporations.

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Source Journal of Corporate Finance, Volume 10, Issue 1, January 2004, Pages 199–227

Article The impact of public opinion on board structure changes, director career progression, and

CEO turnover: evidence from CalPERS’ corporate governance program

Authors Wu, Yilin

Abstract Extant research investigates the effects of legal mechanisms and shareholder activism

on corporate governance. Zingales [Journal of Finance 55 (2000) 1623] calls for research

concerning the effects of public opinion on corporate governance. The California Public

Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) influences public opinion by publicly naming the

companies having poor corporate governance. This study hypothesizes that public naming

by CalPERS damages the reputations of management and directors at these companies,

and these companies respond by improving their corporate governance. This hypothesis

is supported by three findings. First, companies are more likely to decrease the number

of inside directors after being named publicly by CalPERS. A large proportion of departing

inside directors remains full-time employees in the named companies. Second, departing

inside directors are less likely to take up future directorships after their companies are

named publicly by CalPERS. Finally, the likelihood of CEO dismissal increases and the

relation between performance and CEO dismissal becomes stronger after companies are

named publicly by CalPERS. These three findings are consistent with the hypothesis that

CalPERS influences public opinion and that reputation concerns are effective in compelling

companies to improve their corporate governance system.

Source Journal of Financial Economics, Volume 68, Issue 1, April 2003, Pages 3–46

Article Voting with their feet: institutional ownership changes around forced CEO turnover

Authors Robert Parrino; Richard W. Sias; Laura T. Starks

Abstract We investigate whether institutional investors “vote with their feet” when dissatisfied

with a firm’s management by examining changes in equity ownership around forced CEO

turnover. We find that aggregate institutional ownership and the number of institutional

investors decline in the year prior to forced CEO turnover. However, selling by institutions

is far from universal. Overall, there is an increase in shareholdings of individual investors

and a decrease in holdings of institutional investors who are more concerned with holding

prudent securities, are better informed, or are engaged in momentum trading. Measures

of institutional ownership changes are negatively related to the likelihoods of forced CEO

turnover and that an executive from outside the firm is appointed CEO.

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Source Journal of Corporate Finance, 18 (2012) 22–37

Article Voting with their feet or activism? Institutional investors’ impact on CEO turnover

Authors : Jean Helwege; Vincent J. Intintoli; Andrew Zhang

Abstract We examine the relation between institutional investors and management discipline over

the last several decades to better understand how CEO turnover has increased. Using a

sample of forced and voluntary turnovers, we investigate the changing roles of activism and

exit among institutional investors between 1982–1994 and 1995–2006.We find evidence of

activist investors throughout the sample period and their impact is consistently significant

in multivariate analysis. In contrast, voting with their feet has declined to the point where it

no longer affects turnover outcomes. Nonetheless, activism is fairly uncommon and does

not explain the higher turnover observed over time. Block holdings of known activists have

increased and are linked to improving target firms. However, other blocks merely reflect

the increasing size of institutional money managers. Going forward, the increasing size of

institutional investors seems likely to inhibit voting with their feet while activism remains an

important vehicle for change.

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Shareholder ActivismProf. Dr. Didier Cossin & Dr. Jose Caballero

July 2013 © IMD, All Rights Reserved

Visit our website: www.imd.org/boardcenter