Shareholder activism is already an established phenomenon in the US. In Europe, including Belgium, shareholder activism is on the rise and expected to become more and more important. Investors increasingly voice their discontent, instead of opting for the exit. This new attitude will change the dynamic between investors and boards.

Gone are the days where shareholders exclusively focused on their financial return. Today, financial objectives are complemented with the realization of ESG objectives. This push towards sustainability creates new battlefields between investors and boards.

Notwithstanding its importance, the topic of shareholder activism has not yet been explored in Belgium. To fill this gap, the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB-VBO) and the Jean-Pierre Blumberg Chair at the University of Antwerp organize a one-day conference to explore the present and future of activism in Belgium. Old and new forms of activism will be presented and situated in their financial and legal context.

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