Elliott Investment Management, founded by Paul Singer, is a major activist fund with a portfolio exceeding $8 billion. It focuses on distressed securities and is affiliated with Elliott Associates L.P. and Elliott International Limited.
Paul Singer established Elliott Associates in January 1977 with an initial capital of $1.3 million from friends and family. The firm initially focused on convertible arbitrage before transitioning into a multi-strategy hedge fund.
In 1995, Elliott purchased $20 million face value of defaulted Peruvian bank debt, leading to extensive litigation and eventually winning a court award of $58 million, including past due interest.
After extensive litigation, in 1998, the court awarded Elliott $58 million for defaulted Peruvian bank debt, including past due interest.
In 1999, Elliott Management engaged in a battle with P&G during its purchase of Wella.
Elliott Investment Management was established by Paul Singer in the year 2000.
Following Argentina's default on sovereign debt in 2002, Elliott, owning bonds worth $2.3 billion, rejected Argentina's offer of less than 30 cents on the dollar, leading to legal battles and judgments against Argentina.
In 2003, Elliott Management Corporation established a new office in London, expanding its presence in the financial hub of Europe.
In 2008, Elliott uncovered corruption in the Republic of the Congo while enforcing judgments on defaulted bank debt, leading to a settlement by the government for around $90 million on debt Elliott had acquired for less than $20 million.
In 2009, Elliott Management Corporation engaged in a high-profile battle with Procter & Gamble over the acquisition of Wella, ultimately securing a better deal for minority shareholders and enhancing Paul Singer's reputation as an activist investor.
On April 23, 2011, Elliott Management targeted National Express in a hedge fund operation.
In April 2012, Elliott dropped the case against Vinashin after suing for the full amount of the defaulted loan.
In October 2012, an Elliott subsidiary, NML Capital, orchestrated the seizure of the ARA Libertad, an Argentinian naval vessel, in Ghana, as part of efforts to confiscate over $1.6 billion in Argentinian assets following court judgments.
A November 2012 trial in New York ruled in favor of NML Capital against Argentina in a landmark sovereign debt case, with legal experts dubbing it the 'sovereign debt trial of the century'.
In December 2012, Elliott, with an 8% stake in Compuware, offered to buy the company for $11 a share in cash.
In late 2012, Elliott criticized Hess Corporation for its capital use and focus on activities other than oil exploration. In January 2013, Elliott called for asset sales and new directors to boost share price.
In April 2014, Hess Corporation closed its London office following Elliott's advice. Hess has been a significant investment for Elliott since 2013.
According to a February 2015 report, Elliott was among the firms that invested in the Sigfox cellular network, operating in France, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands.
In May 2015, Elliott Management acquired a 4% stake in CDK Global, a technology company. This move marked the beginning of Elliott's involvement in CDK Global's affairs.
In September 2015, Elliott purchased a stake in Comcast, a mass media company based in Philadelphia, with a 1.65% impact on Elliott's portfolio.
In October 2015, Elliott disclosed an 11.1% stake in Cabela's, an outdoor retailer. This disclosure indicated Elliott's interest in engaging with Cabela's board for potential strategies and sale discussions.
On May 4, 2016, Elliott sent a letter to CDK Board of Directors outlining steps to improve ROI and margins. The letter emphasized the need for CDK to optimize its operations for better shareholder value.
On June 8, 2016, Elliott advised CDK to adopt the Value-Maximizing Plan without delay. This recommendation was made due to shareholder support and aimed at enhancing shareholder value.
Elliott Investment Management filed a Form D notice on May 3, 2017, for a pooled investment fund, specifying the securities offered as Equity and Pooled Investment Fund Interests.
In April 2018, Elliott purchased a majority share in Waterstones, a British book retailer, surpassing Alexander Mamut's Lynwood Investments. The acquisition was finalized in May 2018, with James Daunt retaining his position as chief executive.
In May 2018, Elliott Management successfully gained control of Telecom Italia by securing two-thirds of the board seats. This marked a significant victory for Elliott in the telecom sector.
In July 2018, Elliott Management gained control of A.C. Milan, an Italian football club, due to the default of the previous owner, Li Yonghong. Elliott swiftly made changes by acquiring a significant stake and injecting capital to stabilize the club's finances.
In December 2018, Elliott acquired a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard.
On 7 June 2019, Elliott Management revealed its intention to purchase Barnes & Noble for approximately $683 million. The acquisition was finalized on 7 August 2019, making Barnes & Noble a privately held subsidiary under Elliott's ownership.
Elliott Investment Management submitted their Form ADV on November 13, 2020, disclosing their discretionary assets under management (AUM) of $73,511,332,303.
In April 2021, Elliott's directors planned to step down from the board of Twitter after the company's stock performance rose 95% in 2020. This decision came after Twitter's stock price showed significant growth.
Elliott Management exited their investment in Twitter in June 2022 shortly after Elon Musk made a tender offer. The share price was in the mid to high $45-$50 range at the time of exit, resulting in a gain of approximately 33% over two years.
As of December 31, 2023, Elliott manages approximately $65.5 billion in assets, making it a significant player in the investment management industry.
As of January 1, 2024, Elliott Investment Management calculates its total headcount. This information is crucial for the firm to assess its workforce and make strategic decisions.