Activist Insight and Schulte Roth & Zabel Release The Activist Investing Annual Review 2017

The Activist Investing Annual Review 2017, produced by Activist Insight in association with Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ) was released today, analyzing 2016 trends in shareholder activism, ranking the "Top Ten" activist investors and providing predictions for the year ahead.

Highlights from the review:

• Activists targeted 758 companies worldwide in 2016, a 13% increase from 2015's total of 673.
• The number of companies facing public activist demands outside the United States surged to 302 in 2016, up from 255 a year before, driven by greater interest in Asia and opportunities created by volatile European currencies.
• In 2016, the number of companies targeted by activists rose 9% in the United States, 35% in Europe and 48% in Asia.

Click here for a PDF of the review.

Marc Weingarten and Eleazer Klein, SRZ partners and co-chairs of the firm's global Shareholder Activism Group, contributed expert commentary to the review. The publication also features Jim McNally, London-based shareholder activism, corporate and funds partner, and Michael E. Swartz, New York-based litigation partner who advises on shareholder activism litigation.

SRZ is well-known for its premier, market-leading practice handling all types of shareholder activism situations, from the straightforward to the most complex and sophisticated campaigns. In January 2017, leading shareholder activism lawyer Aneliya S. Crawford joined SRZ as a partner in the New York office. She has represented activist investors in connection with more than 100 major shareholder activism campaigns, including many high-profile matters.

Addressing the review's findings, Mr. Weingarten commented, "The large caps are recognizing that activism is here to stay, and many have proactively taken the steps to enhance shareholder value that an activist otherwise might have sought." Mr. Klein added, "Companies are also examining campaigns more closely and checking more frequently with the institutional investors to see what they want."

Activist Insight's Josh Black, editor of the review, outlined some of the obstacles investors are facing. "With markets rallying, interest rates rising and a number of regulatory initiatives designed to clip their wings, 2017 could be another challenging year for activists," he said.

"Together with Activist Insight, we are pleased to present this report. This annual publication serves as a valuable resource for key players in the activism market," stated Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of SRZ's Executive Committee.

The Activist Investing Annual Review 2017 also features "The Activist Top Ten," with Elliott Management topping the list for the second year in a row. Activist Insight selects the list based on the number of campaigns, average size of targets, news stories generated and annualized returns.

"The Activist Top Ten 2016" are:

1. Elliott Management
2. Starboard Value
3. Carl Icahn
4. Corvex Management
5. GAMCO Investors
6. Mangrove Partners
7. Allan Gray
8. Amber Capital
9. Bulldog Investors
10. Teleios Capital Partners

To visit SRZ's Shareholder Activism Resource Center, click here.