Hedge Fund Activism

Hedge Fund Activism surveys the academic literature on hedge fund activism, focusing on two main questions: • What is the nature of activist hedge funds' intervention in target firms? • Does hedge fund activism create value for shareholders in the target firms and for investors in the hedge funds? Hedge Fund Activism begins with a brief outline of the research literature and describes datasets on hedge fund activism. It examines the goals and tactics employed by hedge fund activists and analyzes the characteristics of firms that activist hedge funds target. The authors address the fundamental question of whether hedge fund activism creates value for shareholders by examining short- and long-run stock returns and changes in operating performance of target firms. The evidence in the literature indicates that hedge fund activism is successful in achieving the goals of creating value for shareholders of the target companies. Finally, the authors examine returns to investors in activist hedge funds and conclude with ideas for future research.