When fund managers attack: Five famous activists

M&G Recovery fund manager Tom Dobell may have become embroiled in a public dispute over one of his holdings, but he is by no means the first to speak out in a bid to turn around a company's fortunes.

Shareholder engagement has moved up the UK corporate agenda in recent years, not least when the Kay Review urged fund managers to take a more hands-on approach to their investments. With UK asset managers focused on long-term returns rather than the short-term overhauls often favoured by hedge funds and private equity, talk among fund groups is often about the work done ‘behind the scenes' when engaging with companies. But there are individual managers willing to speak out in a bid to force the issue. Here we detail some of the most well-known. Neil Woodford "I am an exception i...