Carl Icahn
Carl Icahn is a billionaire financier, ranking #18 on the 2007 Forbes 400 list with an estimated net worth of $14.5 billion.
Icahn built a name for himself in the 1980s as a corporate raider. After keeping quite for years, Icahn made a major comeback as a 'activist investor'. An activist investor agitates companies for changes, including buyouts, share buybacks, and dividend increases.
Icahn has successfully pushed for changes at Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) and Temple-Inland (NYSE: TIN), among others. Icahn won board seats at Motorola (NYSE: MOT) after first failing.
In 2007, Icahn's activism successfully pushed biotech company MedImmune into a sales agreement with AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN). Icahn is also involved with biotech company Imclone Systems (Nasdaq: IMCL), where he is Chairman of the Board.
In early, 2008 Icahn activist target BEA Systems (Nasdaq: BEAS) was sold to Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL). Icahn held a 13% stake in BEA.
Icahn is also involved with developments at Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) and WCI Communities (NYSE: WCI), which both unsuccessfully explored sales. WCI rejected a $22 per share takeover offer from Icahn in early 2007, only to see its stock plummet on the housing slowdown.
In 2008, Icahn targeted Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO) after the Internet company failed to work out an acceptable merger agreement with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Microsoft walked away from its bid for Yahoo! after months of bickering.
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Carl Icahn Liquidates Biogen Idec (BIIB), Chesapeake Energy (CHK); Targets Oshkosh (OSK), Forest Labs (FRX) and Commercial Metals (CMC)
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Carl Icahn Says Motorola Mobility (MMI) Acquisition Is "Activism at its Best"
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Motorola Mobility (MMI) Issues Statement on Icahn's 13D Filing
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Icahn Says Motorola (MMI) Should Explore Alternatives for Patent Portfolio
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Icahn's Icahn Capital Shows New Stake in Amgen (AMGN), Clorox (CLX) and Southern Union (NYSE: SUG); Raises Dynegy (DYN), Lowers Chesapeake (CHK)
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RadioShack (RSH) Higher On Suspicious Rumor
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Carl Icahn Shows 11.4% Stake In Motorola Mobility (MMI)
