Shareholder Activism

CVS strikes deal with activist Glenview Capital for four board seats

Key Points
  • CVS Health struck a deal with dissident Glenview Capital, giving the investor four board seats.
  • Glenview had been pushing for changes at the health-care giant and had met with former CEO Karen Lynch prior to her ouster.
  • CVS has struggled this year, due to difficulties with its Medicare Advantage business, and announced a big cost-cutting drive.

In this article

Glenview Capital CEO Larry Robbins on the deal for new CVS Health board seats
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Glenview Capital CEO Larry Robbins on the deal for new CVS Health board seats

CVS Health announced on Monday that it struck a deal with dissident investor Glenview Capital for four board seats, just a few weeks after the health-care giant ousted former CEO Karen Lynch.

Glenview CEO Larry Robbins will join the CVS board effective immediately, alongside three other directors, which CVS said emerged from a "productive discussion" with Glenview. CVS' board will expand to 16 members.

"In our discussions with the leadership at Glenview, we agreed that we can deliver greater value from our integrated businesses to all of our stakeholders," CVS Chair Roger Farah said in a release.

The other new directors are Leslie Norwalk, Guy Sansone and Doug Shulman. Glenview amassed a sizable stake in the health-care conglomerate and worked with management in the lead-up to Lynch's ouster.

"We appreciate the board engaging with us on a cooperative basis that allows all energies to be productively dedicated towards further strengthening this iconic company," Glenview's Robbins said.

CVS has had a challenging year, driven in part by difficulties with its Medicare Advantage business. It initiated a strategic review this fall and has begun to lay off workers in a multibillion-dollar cost-cutting drive.

Several activist fights this season have resulted in settlements. Elliott Management struck a deal with Southwest Airlines in October in which the activist fund secured six seats on the carrier's board. Activist Ancora also settled with railroad Norfolk Southern this month, averting a second proxy fight following the firing of CEO Alan Shaw.

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