Description: Microsoft executives faced an unusual challenge in April when a $12 billion hedge fund, ValueAct, announced that it had bought a nearly $2 billion stake in the company with the intention of shaking things up.

Source: NYTimes.com – video report

Date: August 30, 2013

Link: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/with-huge-war-chests-activist-investors-tackle-big-companies/?ref=business

Questions for Discussions:

• Summarize the strategic thinking of “activist” investors.
• Do you think that their involvement in management of firms is a good thing for the firms or for investors?