Item 1A. Risk Factors
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except for the additional risk factor set forth below, there have been no material changes to the factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Company’s business has been and could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders, and such activism could adversely affect the strategic direction and business results of the Company.
Publicly traded companies are increasingly subject to campaigns by activist shareholders advocating corporate actions such as operational, governance, management or social changes, financial restructurings, increased borrowings, special dividends, stock repurchases, or sales of assets or entire companies to third parties or to the activist shareholders themselves. The Company has been and may continue to be subject to actions from activist shareholders or others that may not align with its business strategies or may not be in the best interests of all of its Shareholders. Actions taken by the Board and management in seeking to maintain constructive engagement with certain Shareholders may not be successful to prevent the occurrence of shareholder activist campaigns or changes that adversely affect the strategic direction or business results of the Company.
The Board received a letter dated June 10, 2024, from Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), stating that Elliott had made an investment of approximately $1.9 billion in the Company, representing an approximately 11 percent economic interest in the Company, and advocating for changes to the Company's management, the Board, and the Company's corporate strategy. In addition to Elliott's public release of its June 10th letter to the Board, Elliot has also made additional public statements that were critical of the Company’s management team, the Board and the Company’s business strategy and results. The Company values input from all Shareholders, including Elliott, and remains open to ongoing engagement with Elliott. Nevertheless, if the Company and Elliott do not reach an agreement in connection with Elliott’s proposals, there may be a contested election at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a demand to call a special meeting of shareholders, or other shareholder activism events or demands.
Responding to actions by activist shareholders has been, and may continue to be, costly and time-consuming and diverts the attention of the Board, management team, and Employees from the management of the Company’s operations and the pursuit of its business strategies. Further, actions of activist shareholders may cause fluctuations in the Company’s stock price based on temporary or speculative market perceptions or other factors that do not necessarily reflect the underlying fundamentals and prospects of its business. Activist shareholder initiatives and perceived uncertainties as to the Company's future direction, strategy or leadership created as a consequence of such initiatives may be exploited by the Company’s competitors or result in the loss of potential business opportunities and make it more difficult to attract and retain investors, Customers, Employees, qualified directors and officers, and business partners. Changes to the Company’s business as a result of or in response to shareholder activism may not produce the anticipated economic benefits and may harm its reputation with Customers, Employees, and others, with related adverse economic consequences. Also, the Company has incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenses related to activist shareholder matters (including, without limitation, legal fees, fees for financial advisors, fees for public relation advisors, and proxy solicitation expenses). If individuals with a specific agenda are elected or appointed to the Board, it may adversely affect the Company’s ability to effectively and timely implement its strategic plan to maximize value for Shareholders. Furthermore, if individuals are elected or appointed to the Board who do not agree with the Company’s strategic plan, the ability of the Board to function effectively could be adversely affected. As a result, activist shareholder campaigns could adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and share price.
In connection with any activist campaign, the Company may choose to initiate, or may become subject to, litigation, which could serve as a further distraction to the Board, management, and Employees and require the Company to incur significant additional costs.
The Company cannot predict, and no assurances can be given as to, the outcome or timing of any matters relating to the foregoing actions by activist shareholders and its responses thereto or the ultimate effects on its business, liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations.
In order to provide the Board with time to make informed decisions that are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders, on July 2, 2024, the Board adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a
dividend of one right in respect of each of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, which will cause substantial dilution to any person or group acquiring 12.5 percent or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock without the prior approval of the Board. The Rights Plan is designed to deter the acquisition of actual, de facto, or negative control of the Company by any person or group without appropriately compensating Company shareholders for that control. The Rights Plan may discourage, delay, or prevent a change of control or acquisition of the Company, even if such action may be considered beneficial by some Shareholders, and could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for the Company’s common stock. This description of the Rights Plan herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 3, 2024.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(c) On May 15, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $2.0 billion of the Company’s common stock. Subject to certain conditions, repurchases may be made in accordance with applicable securities laws in open market or private, including accelerated, repurchase transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions. The Company has suspended share repurchase activity until further notice. The Company has approximately $899 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable
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