Activist Investors' 2024 Anthem: 'We Will, We Will...Rock You (and Your Board)'

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the hottest act of 2024 - activist investors! These financial rockstars stormed the corporate stage with a record-breaking 243 campaigns, turning stuffy boardrooms into veritable mosh pits of change. Leading the charge were 160 investors, including 45 fresh-faced newbies making their debut on the activism scene.

CEOs were sweating as a staggering 27 got the boot - that's more exits than a Spinal Tap drummer! Companies like Kohl's, CVS Health, and Norfolk Southern found themselves playing musical chairs in the C-suite. Even coffee giant, Starbucks, couldn't escape the beat, with its CEO stepping down as activist investors circled like caffeinated sharks.

But here's the real chart-topper: these activists were singing a new tune. Instead of the old Merge, Acquire, and Roll hit, they were belting out We don't need no M&A, we just want better strategy, hey! Only 22% of campaigns were pushing for M&A, down from 43% in 2021. Meanwhile, 26% were all about improving strategy and operations - talk about a change in rhythm!

The show wasn't limited to the USA, though. These investors took their world tour to Japan, South Korea and Australia, with memorable gigs at Tokyo Gas and Nippon Steel. It was like the Eras Tour, but with balance sheets!

And the returns? Oh boy, were they music to investors' ears! While we don't have the final charts for 2024, word on the street is that some high-profile firms were hitting high notes with returns approaching 30%. That's like going platinum in the investment world!

As we roll into 2025, it looks like this activist investor world tour is far from over. The number of new global campaigns jumped a whopping 67% from Q3 to Q4 in 2024! With the Trump administration potentially playing a more lenient tune when it comes to deals, we might see even more corporate remix action in the coming year.

So, corporate America, better start tuning those guitars and practicing those scales. The activists are warming up for their next big performance and they're not just playing for applause - they're playing for keeps. Remember, in this rock concert of finance, it's not just about the money, money, money - it's about making some noise, shaking up the establishment and getting the crowd (um, company) moving!

Get ready for another year of corporate chart-toppers, boardroom ballads and CEO swan songs. The activist investors are here to stay and they're turning the volume up to 11!  Let’s ROCK!

#activism #activist