Shareholder Activism. Theory and practice of activist action and effects on the affected

Study paper from 2014 in the field of Business Administration - Banking, Stock Exchange, Insurance, Grade: 1.3, University of Duisburg-Essen (Mercator School of Management), Language: German.

Abstract: Critical opinions about corporate boards, along with the demand for a new responsible person, are not uncommon in the private sector. However, these conflicts become particularly interesting when the statements come not from those regularly authorized to appoint and dismiss board members, but from shareholders. By engaging in shareholder activism, they publicly intervene in the operational business of companies and demand changes. Shareholder activism can harbor enormous potential, but also conflict potential. For this reason, this paper examines the intentions and effects of shareholder activism in more detail and attempts to answer the question of whether it is beneficial for shareholders as well as for companies.