Firm News
Schulte Roth & Zabel Holds 8th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference
October 26, 2017
Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ) is hosting its 8th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference today in New York. Prominent activists and leading advisers will discuss current issues as well as the emerging trends in the industry. The event is by invitation only.
The conference features guest speakers and SRZ lawyers offering topical insights on the state of market practice. Marc Weingarten and Ele Klein, co-chairs of SRZ’s global Shareholder Activism Group, are spearheading the annual event. Mr. Weingarten will moderate a panel devoted to “Large- and Mega-Cap Activism,” featuring Josh Frank of Trian Fund Management, L.P., Charles Penner of JANA Partners LLC and Geoffrey Sorbello of Elliott Management Corporation.
Mr. Klein will moderate two panels. The panel exploring the “Anatomy of a Proxy Contest: venBio Case Study” features Behzad Aghazadeh, PhD, of venBio Select Advisor, Bruce H. Goldfarb of Okapi Partners LLC, Michael E. Swartz, SRZ partner who heads the shareholder activism litigation handled by the firm, and Dan Zacchei of Sloane & Company. Earlier this year, SRZ advised venBio in a series of unprecedented victories in its campaign at Immunomedics. Mr. Klein will also moderate the discussion on “SPVs, NOLs and HSR,” featuring Jason S. Kaplan, SRZ investment management partner, Gregory L. Kinzelman, SRZ M&A and securities special counsel, and Kurt F. Rosell, SRZ tax partner.
Aneliya S. Crawford, SRZ partner in the Shareholder Activism and M&A and Securities Groups, will moderate a panel covering “Micro- to Mid-Cap Activism.” Featured speakers are Richard Mansouri of Sandell Asset Management Corp., J. Daniel Plants of Voce Capital Management LLC and Gregory P. Taxin of Spotlight Advisors, LLC. Ms. Crawford will also discuss “Current Trends in Shareholder Activism” with Josh Black of Activist Insight.
“It’s been an incredibly active year in shareholder activism. There has been no shortage of attractive targets but the real challenge is in executing a successful proxy campaign. Today, this great line-up of speakers will address those challenges and opportunities,” said Mr. Weingarten. “We are also seeing some companies fighting, rather than taking a sensible settlement, including resorting to litigation as a desperate defense strategy.” Mr. Klein added, “At today’s conference, we will hear first-hand from the players involved in these high-profile proxy fights.”
“We are pleased to present our 8th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference. Once again, we have gathered a group of industry leaders involved in sophisticated campaigns,” commented Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. SRZ is the dominant global law firm for shareholder activism and activist investing. The firm is well-known for handling all types of situations, from the straightforward to the most complex and sophisticated campaigns.
Among numerous campaigns in the past year, SRZ advised Trian Partners in its campaign at Procter & Gamble, the largest company to ever be the subject of a proxy contest, Greenlight Capital Inc. in its campaign at General Motors Co., JANA Partners LLC in connection with Whole Foods Market Inc. and Elliott Management in connection with Marathon Petroleum.
SRZ advises activists, “occasional activists,” investment advisers and issuers, providing advice on navigating the maze of applicable laws and regulations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as covering markets in continental Europe and other parts of the world. Visit SRZ’s Shareholder Activism Resource Center here.
