Musk Threatens Lower Price For Twitter

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Free-Photos / Pixabay Table of Contents show

• 1. What's New In Activism – Musk Threatens Lower Price For Twitter
• 2. What's New In Proxy Voting - Failed 'Say On Pay'
• 3. What's New In Activist Shorts - Spruce Point v Alpha Metallurgical Resources
• 4. Quote Of The Week

Elon Musk said that a lower takeover price for Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) was“not out of the question,” a week after short seller Hindenburg Research predicted a repricing. The social media company said it was holding the Tesla CEO to the“agreed” $44 billion price tag.

Musk made the comment on May 16, several days after saying he was putting the Twitter take-private on hold over concerns about fake accounts on the platform. He said a large number of fake accounts may be considered“a material adverse misstatement,” which would free him of the contract.

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Q1 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more

Yost Partners was up 0.8% for the first quarter, while the Yost Focused Long Funds lost 5% net. The firm's benchmark, the MSCI World Index, declined by 5.2%. The funds' returns outperformed their benchmark due to their tilt toward value, high exposures to energy and financials and a bias toward quality. In his first-quarter letter Read More

The Tesla CEO would face a $1 billion termination fee if he walks away from the deal, but Twitter has the option to launch a legal battle to force him to close the transaction.

To arrange an online demo of Insightia's Activism module, send us an email .

Activism chart of the week

So far this year (as of May 19, 2022), globally, 53 basic materials companies have been publicly subjected to activist demands. That is compared to 46 in the same period last year.

Source: Insightia | Activism

Shareholders failed to support the 'say on pay' proposal at JP Morgan Chase & Co.'s May 17 annual meeting, with media reporting that only 31% of votes were cast for the proposal.

The unusual rebuke contrasted with more than 90% support in each of the last two years, and a 72% support rate in 2019, according to Insightia's Voting module.

JP Morgan typically faces strong support for shareholder proposals to improve its corporate governance, particularly arguments for improved special meeting rights or a separation of the chairman and CEO roles.

Other companies to face recent 'say on pay' rebellions include Flowserve, HelloFresh, and SS&C Technologies Holdings.

To arrange an online demo of Insightia's Voting module, send us an email .

Voting chart of the week

So far this year, 55% of no-action requests on environmental and social shareholder proposals have been rejected by the SEC, forcing the company to submit the proposal to a vote. This compares to 39% across the whole of 2021.

Source: Insightia | Voting 

Spruce Point Capital Management placed a short bet on Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc (NYSE:AMR), questioning the coal mining company's financial statements and reckoning the business is facing 'significant financial stress.'

In a May 17 report , Spruce Point said it found staggering evidence of misstated production, revenues, and expenses, up to $690 million of 'hidden' debt obligations, overstated cash, and recent cash shortfalls, inflated inventories, and shrinking economic reserves at Alpha.

Alpha's CEO and Chairman David Stetson accused Spruce Point of being 'fueled by an inadequate understanding of coal mining and our reporting requirements.' Management also received a show of support from Lead Independent Director Michael Quillen.

To arrange an online demo of Insightia's Shorts module, send us an email .

Shorts chart of the week

So far this year (as of May 20, 2022), six basic materials companies have been publicly subjected to an activist short campaign. That is up from three in the same period last year.

Source: Insightia | Shorts

This tweet from Elon Musk hit out at Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal for refusing to shed light on the number of fake accounts. Read a summary of the story in our Activism section above.

“20% fake/spam accounts, while 4 times what Twitter claims, could be much higher. My offer was based on Twitter's SEC filings being accurate.” – Elon Musk

Updated on May 24, 2022, 1:41 pm

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