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Gladstone Place Partners CEO Steve Lipin represents Walt Disney Co. as the embattled entertainment giant announced today that it is supported by activist investment firm ValueAct Capital Management in its efforts to fend off a proxy fight with Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management.
Disney agreed to share information with ValueAct and consult with it on strategic matters. ValueAct, in turn, will support Disney’s slate of nominees at the 2024 annual meeting.
ValueAct Co-CEO & chief investment officer Mason Morfit believes Disney can lead the media industry as legacy technologies transition to digital platforms. Disney chief Bob Iger said Morfit “has been very constructive in the conversations that we’ve had over the past year.”
Gagnier Communications is handling Blackwells Capital as it unveiled three director nominees on Jan. 3 who support Iger’s “value creation vision.”
A Blackwells’ proposal specifies that any incumbent director outvoted by its nominees will be added back to the board following the annual meeting.
Jason Aintabi, chief investment officer at Blackwells, called on Peltz “to end his peacocking so that Disney can focus on its bright future and not be dragged backward in time."
Gagnier Communications’ Dan Gagnier and managing director Riyaz Lalani handle Blackwells.
Trian relies on Reevemark’s Paul Caminiti, Pamela Greene and Jacqueline Zuhse in its Disney push.
FGS Global represents private equity firm Thoma Bravo as it makes a $4.6B bid for Darktrace, a UK-based cybersecurity artificial intelligence firm.
Edelman handles Viking Holdings, the river and ocean luxury cruise line that plans to raise $1B via an IPO priced in the $21 to $25 per share range.
Teneo is handling the initial public offering of CVC Capital Partners, one of Europe’s largest private equity firms with nearly $200B in assets under management.
Brunswick Group represents Endeavor Group Holdings as it agrees to go private via its acquisition by Silver Lake technology investment firm, which is handled by Edelman Smithfield.
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