Insights
Read the latest investor-focused insights from our team on a broad range of topics ranging from activism to sustainability. Please note that we share our Insights only with companies, investors, and law firms.
SquareWell Partners (“SquareWell”) analyzed activist campaigns at the largest companies globally from September 2019 to December 2021. The review focuses on those campaigns that escalated to challenge management proposals or the submission of shareholder proposals; campaigns that are yet to reach a public outcome, such as Elliott at GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) and Cevian at Aviva, did not form part of our analysis.
A SquareWell study looking at CEO dismissals and appointments at the world's largest companies since 2019. The study, which will be updated on biannually, provides trends in succession planning disclosure, reasons for dismissals, diversification of CEO profiles, and many more.
In the period under review, a resurgence of activity (46 campaigns at 42 companies, versus 24 campaigns at 24 companies in the previous 12-month period) was led by a higher level of campaigns at FTSE 250 and AIM listed companies. FTSE 100 companies were not excluded from activist interest with public pressure seen at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Rolls-Royce, by Elliott and Causeway Capital, respectively.
A look at the largest 100 companies in the US and Europe shows that 75% have increased their dividend to be paid out of 2020 earnings compared to 2019. Share buybacks, however, have not yet picked-up.
