article thumbnail

How Companies Can Use Investors to Their Advantage

Harvard Business Review

Then a new CFO joined the company: Masashi Oka, a financial industry veteran who had played a key role in transforming Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group-owned Union Bank in the US. I assumed you had some further cost reduction up your sleeve.” What he heard was uncomfortable. The number of directors and officers would be reduced.

article thumbnail

4 Types of Activist Investors and How to Spot Them

Harvard Business Review

market has witnessed a substantial rise of activist investors. is a top performing S&P 500 listed company whose two-year total return outperformed the market by over 60%. However, free cash flow per share remained impressive at both companies, and fixed cost ratios remained somewhat intact. Example: Jolly Inc.

How To 8