KPMG’s 2014 Audit Committee Roundtable Series – Rethinking Shareholder Engagement in the Age of Activism

Patrick S. Bryant participated in a panel discussion at KPMG’s 2014 Audit Committee Roundtable Series – Rethinking Shareholder Engagement in the Age of Activism. The event was held Wednesday, May 14 at The Ritz Carlton-Charlotte.

The rise of investor activism, with different types of investors advocating for changes or improvements to the company’s balance sheet, operations, strategy, social and environmental values, corporate governance, and more is causing boards to rethink their approach to shareholder engagement. Do we understand our investor base, their perspectives, and time-horizons? Are we “thinking like an activist” to identify the company’s potential vulnerabilities? Do investors have information and insights that could strengthen the company’s competitiveness and long-term performance? With which investors should the board engage—and are there clear protocols for when and how to communicate?