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Activist investing

November

The activists are targeting News Corp’s dual-voting share structure, saying battle for succession among Rupert Murdoch’s children has left the media company at risk.

Why Perpetual wants to maintain Murdoch control at News Corp

News Corp shareholders have been asked to vote on whether the company’s dual-class share structure should be collapsed this week.

  • Anthony Macdonald

October

Magellan chairman Andrew Formica has defended a decision to pay Keybridge Capital.

Magellan board defends Bolton’s windfall amid ASIC probe

The chairman of the fund manager said a deal struck to appease activist investor Nick Bolton was in the best interests of shareholders.

  • Jonathan Shapiro, Jemima Whyte and Zoe Samios

September

Viburnum Funds’ Craig Coleman.

Viburnum’s GTN takeover finds early takers after trading frenzy

Viburnum, which was sitting on 35.53 per cent of GTN, is said to be hovering near the 50 per cent mark after scooping up about 15 per cent of GTN on Monday.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

August

Welcome to the nature positive investing movement

Institutional investors see natural capital as the next force in corporate governance, with big implications for companies growing and selling food.

  • James Eyers
Michael Traill, co-founder of For Purpose Investment Partners, and Qantas Super’s Andrew Spence.

This super fund creates positive returns – and social benefits

Within its $9b fund, Qantas Super allocated $600 million for social impact investing. This year it backed an aged care project, to improve quality of care.

  • James Eyers
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Viburnum Funds managing partner Craig Coleman.

Viburnum Funds sets sights on Coventry Group breakup

Fluids spoke for about 43 per cent of the group’s total $371.3 million revenue in the 2024 financial year.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

July

Laurence Parisi served as chief executive officer of Eildon Capital, stepping down on June 30.

Eildon Capital on former boss’ M&A radar

Street Talk understands that Brisbane-based property fund manager and financier Trilogy Funds is weighing an acquisition of Eildon Capital.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Nick Bolton at Byron Bay in October.

Magellan activist Nick Bolton loses high-stakes battle over legal fees

Nick Bolton’s enemies are legion. Though few can be as determined as John Atanaskovic.

  • Myriam Robin

June

Hawkins has recently added a new stock to L1’s Catalyst Fund.

L1’s activist fund is making investors and boards take notice

The hedge fund’s catalyst strategy has returned 42 per cent since its 2021 inception, and portfolio manager James Hawkins is eyeing up L1’s next target.

  • Alex Gluyas

May

Karoon Energy’s Who Dat oil and gas operation in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Karoon chairman preps for showdown with angry investors

An activist consortium led by Samuel Terry Asset Management intends to vote against five of the nine resolutions up for vote at the oil and gas producer’s AGM on May 23. 

  • Elouise Fowler
Peter Botten, chairman of Karoon Energy.

Karoon chairman in activists’ firing line over pay

Sandon wrote to chairman Peter Botten on Wednesday arguing that Karoon’s incentive structure had insufficient regard for shareholder value.

  • Jonathan Shapiro

April

Activists Samuel Terry, Sandon lawyer up for Karoon Energy fight

The pair have added Allens and Mont Lawyers to their legal teams as they look to talk on the Karoon Energy board.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Samuel Terry’s Fred Woollard.

Activist funds to push Karoon Energy on dividends

Samuel Terry and Sandon Capital will target the oil and gas producer’s board before May’s annual general meeting and push for more dividend payments.

  • Jonathan Shapiro
Victoria Hardie is managing director of HMC Capital Partners

ASX activist HMC Capital takes aim at GrainCorp

HMC Capital has revealed a position in GrainCorp, marking the group’s fourth public bet from the highly concentrated Capital Partners Fund.

  • Updated
  • Joshua Peach

March

New York hedge fund Saba Capital has upped its stake in the ASX-listed philanthropy vehicle to nearly 10 per cent.

Hearts & Minds’ heavyweight board stares down New York hedge fund

Saba Capital, which has previously campaigned against BlackRock in its bid to change funds, has bought up some 10 per cent of the ASX-listed philanthropy vehicle.

  • Jonathan Shapiro and Joshua Peach
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February

Legendary investor Warren Buffett.

Buffett admits Berkshire’s days of ‘eye-popping’ gains are over

In his latest letter to shareholders, the legendary investor says there are only a handful of companies capable of moving the needle at Berkshire.

  • Eric Platt

December 2023

Fund manager Geoff Wilson is taking on Nick Bolton again.

Wilson claims $5.6m of Bolton’s Magellan profits ‘unaccounted for’

Geoff Wilson’s lawyers are demanding more information about how activist Nick Bolton has allocated the profits from his Magellan options raid.

  • Jonathan Shapiro
Activist investor Nick Bolton has come out on top in his battle against Magellan

Activist Bolton triumphs as Magellan pays out option holders

Magellan will spend $65 million buying out options in an emphatic win for Nick Bolton against the global equities manager.

  • Jonathan Shapiro

November 2023

CFO live

Proxy firms say executives need more ‘skin in the game’

The boards of locally listed companies can do better to align executives with bonus payments, they say, and boards must be more independent on remuneration.

  • Jonathan Shapiro
Sohn supporters Roza and Solomon Lew on November 17.

Taylor Collison crosses line in Hearts and Minds LIC; eyes on Saba

Fingers were pointing to New York activist investor, Saba Capital Management, as the buyer.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/activist-investing-1mwl