Audra Cohen and Tia Barancik co-authored an article, “Shareholder activism in the regulated utility sector,” published in Financier Worldwide. The article explores recent trends in the regulated utilities industry including the influence of new technologies, consumer-driven demand for renewable energy and rising inflation. The authors note that these industry changes, along with the elimination of legal and regulatory restrictions in the mid-2000s, have provided activists with a greater ability to influence utility companies’ management and corporate policies.
“Recent practice of activists is to acquire an economic stake in a public utility and then obtain board seats and, if formed, a role on a special committee through which to advocate for changes in corporate policy, governance or strategic direction,” the authors write.