Shareholder activism spreads globally

Purpose – To inform on recent developments in shareholder activism, a phenomenon well-documented in North America and Europe and now spreading to Latin America, and summarize the key considerations for corporate boards. Design/methodology/approach – The article discusses a recent development involving Cartica Capital, a USA hedge fund and minority shareholder in CorpBanca, a Chilean bank pursuing a merger with Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Latin America’s biggest bank by market value, Cartica. Findings – Shareholder activism will continue to be an expanding global phenomenon. Practical implications – Boards must continue to plan accordingly when structuring a strategic transaction, both in and outside the USA market. Originality/value – Practical overview of recent developments in shareholder activism with a review of the key considerations for practitioners.