Energy

Icahn Wins One, Loses One at Transocean Shareholder Meeting

Offshore drill rig
Thinkstock
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.

It’s Your Money, Your Future—Own It (sponsor)

Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? For families with more than $500,000 saved for retirement, finding a financial advisor who puts your interest first can be the difference, and today it’s easier than ever. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been carefully vetted and must act in your best interests. Start your search now.

If you’ve saved and built a substantial nest egg for you and your family, don’t delay; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.

AI Portfolio

Discover Our Top AI Stocks

Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.

You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.