We are big fans of Jana Partners here. Although the fund describes its investment approach as ‘value plus catalyst’, it’s not afraid to get vocal and create its own catalyst. Just ask Agrium’s (AGU) management team. While that situation didn’t achieve the desired result, the firm has notched numerous activist victories including the spinoffs (or possible spins) at… Read More »
These pages have frequently highlighted the many victories notched by activists pushing for breakups. We are big, big fans of those guys. Of course, like all good battles, the other side doesn’t just sit back and wait to be ambushed. No, new tactics are drawn up, plans laid and in this case that means talking to lawyers. About… Read More »
We recently highlighted an increasingly tense standoff between Agrium (AGU) and its largest shareholder, activist hedge fund Jana Partners. The situation has evolved since then, but in short, Jana is pushing for the company to spin off its retail unit into an independent company in order to unlock significant shareholder value. The company has resisted the move and Jana is… Read More »
Activist investors have been notching so many wins recently that victory over management almost feels inevitable. Have corporate executives just thrown in the towel? Don’t be so quick to write them off, as Agrium (AGU), the Canadian fertilizer company and Jana Partners’ most recent target, is fighting back. Before delving any deeper, it is worth noting that Agrium… Read More »
With the economy improving, markets roaring and volatility seemingly subsiding, companies are no longer afraid of approaching the capital markets. As a result, previously shelved spinoffs are now resurfacing. The latest is this week’s IPO of CVR Partners, the nitrogen fertilizer MLP subsidiary of CVR Energy (CVI). The IPO idea was first floated in 2008, but market conditions… Read More »