Over the last three years the U.S. market has witnessed a substantial rise of activist investors. According to Schulte, Roth & Zabel’s Activist Investing 2015 Annual Review, a total of 344 companies worldwide were subjected to activist demands in 2014, up 18% from the 291 recorded in 2013. And the movement is gaining acceptance as a mainstream investment strategy. No longer is the term “activist” associated with the corporate raiders of the 1980’s. Instead, activism is now more often thought of as a value-based strategy that optimizes untapped shareholder wealth. This is showcased by a recent announcement from State Street Global Advisors, one of the largest index investors in the world, saying that they are completely willing to partner with activists. Neuberger Berman also announced earlier in the year they took a 20% stake in JANA Partners.