Elliott Management Opposing CTG’s Bid For EDP

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What The Activism World Is Talking About

One of Elliott Management’s latest targets is Portugal’s electricity operator Energias de Portugal (EDP), where the omnipresent activist investor is opposing a bid by large shareholder and state-backed Chinese group China Three Gorges (CTG) to acquire the entire company. The activist instead proposed a standalone alternative with several tweaks to strategy and portfolio. CTG, a 23% shareholder with five board seats, which is backed by the Chinese government, proposed in May to buy the Portuguese utility company for 3.26 euros per share, an offer 2.9% stakeholder Elliott believes “significantly undervalues EDP’s growth potential.”

The activist said EDP could be transformed into an “ideal utility” with lower leverage that focuses on core renewables areas. The activist proposed EDP divest its stake in EDP Brasil as well as its Iberian electricity distribution and legacy Iberian thermal assets. The proceeds from the asset sales should be used by EDP to invest in key areas of growth such as renewables and to reduce debt, according to Elliott, which believes the company can raise 7.6 billion euros that way.

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Q4 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc

What We'll Be Watching For This Week

  • Will PLx Pharma shareholders support a proposed convertible preferred stock financing at the special meeting today?
  • Will Lee Enterprises shareholders side with Cannell Capital at the meeting on Wednesday and vote for certain corporate governance improvements, including board declassification, giving shareholders the right to requisition special meetings, and minimum ownership thresholds for board members?
  • How will investors vote at Urals Energy’s special meeting on Friday, where shareholder Adler Impex is proposing to remove three board members and appoint four dissident nominees?

Activist Shorts Update

Citron Research published a follow-up report about Inogen last week, accusing the manufacturer of portable oxygen concentrators of participating in elder abuse through legal and illegal tactics by fraudulently selling its devices “for the highest price without proper disclosure of benefits to seniors at the most vulnerable time of their life.” Citron claimed that Inogen has conspired with its reseller network to dominate Google listings and deceive elders into believing Medicare does not cover Inogen’s products. This enables Inogen to make greater profits with customers’ cash purchases.

Citron’s report came days after Muddy Waters Research targeted Inogen, contending the firm has created “an egregiously false narrative” about its total addressable market size and growth. Citron first targeted Inogen in May 2018, claiming the firm will face increased competition.

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Chart Of The Week

The number of global companies publicly subjected to board-related activism between January 01 and February 15 in respective years.

Chart Of The Week

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