Activism defence

Not every activist shareholder campaign makes waves. Many start quietly — below the surface — circling boards and executives, slowly putting reputation and operating momentum at risk.

FGS Longview’s integrated team of specialists works hand-in-hand with corporate clients and their advisors – bankers, lawyers and proxy solicitors – to help you anticipate challenges, address vulnerabilities and build trust before the tide turns.

Build your defences before an activist can strike

Any listed company can be the target of an attack. We work with your board and senior leadership team to candidly assess challenges before a threat occurs and develop strategies to counter a range of potential activist approaches.

Understanding potential activist attack vectors and developing a robust and up-to-date preparedness plan is only the first step. We ensure clients can respond quickly and confidently when an attack occurs. Our work includes simulation exercises and is grounded in integrated Stakeholder Strategies tailored to each situation.

Deploy your response plan promptly and decisively

When the fight becomes public, we bring media, IR and reputation management experts who — taking into account the legal, proxy and overall strategic framework — guide companies to favourable outcomes, through a negotiated resolution or at a shareholder vote. Our campaign mindset and advanced digital tools control the narrative and effectively persuade and mobilize your shareholders. In an increasingly interconnected business ecosystem, we also help develop strategies to engage your other key constituents — from unions and regulators to customers and employees — who can be influential in live activism campaigns.

Know the terrain

In addition to our experienced team, we work with our partners to successfully engage with investors and proxy advisory firms when facing or preparing for an activist campaign or related issues — spanning shareholder engagement, say-on-pay, proxy statement preparation and corporate governance issues.

FGS Longview is proud to be named the top Investor Relations/Public Relations advisor to companies facing shareholder activism by Bloomberg’s 2025 Global Activism Review and League Tables.