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Southwest Airlines embraces 'poison tablet' after Elliott promotes changes

Southwest Airlines adopted a so-called poison tablet to hinder Elliott Financial investment Management from raising its stake in the carrier after the activist financier required leadership changes following frustrating financial results.

The statement comes days after Southwest CEO Bob Jordan stated he would not resign in response to pressure from Elliott, which exposed a stake worth almost $2 billion in the provider last month.

Southwest Airlines has actually made an excellent faith effort to engage constructively with Elliott Investment Management because its preliminary financial investment and stays open up to any ideas for lasting worth creation, Southwest Executive Chair Gary Kelly stated in a. statement on Wednesday.

Kelly said Southwest's board embraced the poison pill as. Elliott might substantially increase its existing stake of 11%.

Under the toxin tablet method, used by corporate boards. to thwart hostile takeover quotes, Southwest will provide one right. for each share of typical stock. The rights will initially trade. with the carrier's common stock and will normally end up being. exercisable if anybody or group gets 12.5% or more of the. company's shares.

The right will permit holders to buy shares of typical stock. at a significant discount.

Elliott's push for changing CEO Jordan with an outside hire. followed the carrier delivered uninspired results in recent. quarters, partly due to the fact that of delays in plane supply from Boeing .

Late in June, the company likewise flagged ongoing battles. with pricing in its 2nd quarter due to problems in. precisely forecasting travel need, inviting criticism from. Elliott.

Elliott was not instantly available for talk about. Wednesday.

Shares of the company were up less than 1% in early trade. The stock has lost nearly 22% of its worth in the past 12. months.

(source: Reuters)