Shareholder activism, for many years a fact of life in the United States, is now pervasive in the UK.

The growth of shareholder activism in the UK has been driven by US activists, as they turn their sights to untapped opportunities and bring tried-and-tested techniques to these shores.

However, the activist universe is expanding rapidly, with home-grown activists emerging, traditionally less vocal asset managers finding their voices, and a range of other investors, such as founders, mounting campaigns.

In this dynamic environment, it is important for companies to be well prepared, as recent campaigns have shown that no company is too large or well performing to be immune to an activist attack.

Senior management need to know the best ways of preventing activist approaches and techniques for dealing them if they occur.

They should also consider the growing impact of related issues such as Environmental, Social and Governance matters (ESG).

With expert panels and presentations, this conference aims to cover thoroughly the key aspects of active shareholder engagement. Sessions will include:

• Overview: is shareholder activism growing in the UK?
• Why are investors becoming more active?
• Why would an activist target your company?
• Current activist behaviour and techniques
• Getting your house in order – how to minimise the risk of an activist approach and limit any damage caused
• Successful strategies for engaging with an activist
• The growing importance of ESG