Activist Investor Nelson Peltz Plans to Shake Up Disney Board: Will He Be the Hero Disney Needs?

The Peltz Plan

Nelson Peltz the man with a plan is making waves in the Disney realm. His firm Trian Fund Management is set to release a white paper detailing why Peltz and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo should be added to the Disney board. And we all know that adding a touch of Trian magic can do wonders for a struggling company.

Lobbying and Meetings

Trian doesn't plan to just sit around and wait for their request to be granted. Oh no they're taking a proactive approach. After meeting with proxy solicitors Glass Lewis and ISS in February they will begin lobbying shareholders in the hopes of gaining their support. Talk about a full court press!

The Need for Transparency

Trian believes that Disney needs to be more transparent with its businesses. And let's be honest they're not wrong. We all know that Mickey Mouse can be a bit mysterious at times but when it comes to shareholders it's time for Disney to show them the magic tricks behind the curtain.

Streaming Dreams

Disney is planning to enter the streaming game with its direct to consumer ESPN service. But before they make their big debut Trian wants to see some short term profitability targets. After all they don't want Disney to be a never ending story of streaming losses.

The Dynamic Duo

Nelson Peltz and Jay Rasulo may be the heroes Disney needs but they're up against a tough opponent the Disney board. Peltz has criticized the board for being too cozy with CEO Bob Iger. Looks like Batman and Robin have their work cut out for them.

Can They Save the Day?

At the end of the day Peltz and Rasulo are just two voices on a board filled with Iger loyalists. But sometimes all it takes is a little bit of courage and some well placed questions to shake things up. Will Peltz and Rasulo be able to turn the Disney board around? Only time will tell.