Activist investor Carl Icahn had proposed that the world’s largest offshore drilling firm, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG), pay shareholders a one-time dividend of $4 a share and to replace 3 board members with a slate of candidates Icahn supported. Shareholders rejected the dividend proposal, with nearly 75% of those voting refusing to support the proposal.
In something of a face-saving victory, Icahn did manage to put one of his three candidates on Transocean’s board. Sam Merksamer will replace board chairman Michael Talbert who had said he would resign from the board even if re-elected. He won’t have to write that resignation letter now.
Transocean’s CEO told The Wall Street Journal that the company “welcomes” Merksamer to the board and that there won’t be any issues with seating the new board member.
At its annual meeting yesterday shareholders did approve a smaller dividend payment of $2.24 a share that had been proposed by Transocean’s management and supported by to institutional investors’ advisory firms. The dividend will be paid in 4 quarterly installments of $0.56 a share beginning in June.
Shares of Transocean are trading down 1.8% at $53.76 in a 52-week range of $39.32 to $59.50.
“The Next NVIDIA” Could Change Your Life
NVIDIA has returned 250-fold in the past 10 years as artificial intelligence took off.
But if you missed out on NVIDIA’s historic run, your chance to see life-changing profits from AI isn’t over.
The 24/7 Wall Street Analyst who first called NVIDIA’s AI-fueled rise in 2009 just published a brand-new research report named “The Next NVIDIA.”
The report outlines key breakthroughs in AI and the stocks ready to dominate the next wave of growth. The report is absolutely free. Simply enter your email below
By providing your email address, you agree to receive communications from us regarding website updates and other offerings that may be of interest to you.
You have the option to opt-out of these emails at any moment. For more information, please review our Disclaimer and Terms of Use.