Fresh Kitchen Adds to Leadership Team
Discover how Fresh Kitchen's new operations and development leaders are poised to accelerate the brand’s growth and innovate in the fast-casual dining sector.
Jul 15, 2026
Discover how Fresh Kitchen's new operations and development leaders are poised to accelerate the brand’s growth and innovate in the fast-casual dining sector.
Jul 15, 2026
McDonald's taps seasoned leader Ugwechi Amadi as Chief Strategy Officer, bringing expertise from Nike and LIV Golf to spearhead the chain's forward-thinking NEXT strategy for restaurant owners and managers.
Jul 15, 2026
Learn how to start a food truck business by planning costs, permits, menus, equipment, locations, marketing, staffing, and efficient operations.
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Explore leading restaurant equipment brands and learn how to choose reliable cooking, refrigeration, preparation, beverage, storage, and serving systems confidently.
Jul 14, 2026
Great Hill Partners takes a minority stake in Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming to accelerate franchise support, technology, and expansion.
Jul 14, 2026
Olive Garden brings back its $100 Pasta Pass for 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, soup or salad, and breadsticks; 10,000 passes, Aug 24 to Nov 22, dine-in only.
Jul 14, 2026
Resales accelerate amid boomer exits, tighter margins, and complex deals. Data gaps persist as brands formalize programs to keep units open.
Jul 14, 2026
Chipotle is launching its first Mexican location, redefining fast-casual strategy for restaurant leaders and offering key lessons for international growth and partnerships.
Jul 14, 2026
PizzaExpress will master franchise Houston TX Hot Chicken across the U.K. and Ireland, targeting 50 sites in three years with three openings in six months.
Jul 13, 2026
Wingstop posts 8.7% comp decline; leans on Club Wingstop loyalty, sports-heavy media, and smart kitchens to rebuild traffic. Investors eye July 29, 2026 results.
Jul 13, 2026
Explore the use of poison pills as a strategic defense mechanism against activist investors and how they impact shareholder value and corporate strategies.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
Poison pills, also known as shareholder rights plans, have evolved over the years from being a preventative measure to a reactive strategy in response to specific threats like hostile takeovers by activist investors. In the past, during the 1990s, many Fortune 100 companies routinely adopted poison pills as a proactive defense mechanism. These pills were designed to dilute the holdings of an acquiring entity once it bought a certain threshold of shares, making takeovers more expensive and challenging.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
In the contemporary corporate landscape, poison pills are more tailored and situation-specific. Companies are strategically using them to combat activist investors like Biglari Capital. By setting specific triggers and durations, boards can respond swiftly to perceived threats without committing to prolonged defensive measures. Limited-duration pills are now prevalent, with many lasting less than a year, offering flexibility to boards.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
While poison pills are often criticized as anti-shareholder tactics, they serve as a crucial tool for boards to maximize shareholder value. Keith Gottfried, a seasoned advisor on poison pills, emphasizes that these strategies do not hinder legitimate acquisition offers but rather prevent hostile takeovers that undervalue the company. By giving boards time to enact strategic plans or consider better offers, poison pills safeguard shareholder interests and corporate growth.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
Activist investors may challenge poison pills in court, but success is rare, especially when the threshold to trigger the pill is reasonable. Delaware courts have historically upheld the legality of poison pills, assuming boards act in good faith to protect shareholders. Long-term pills, requiring shareholder approval, face resistance from institutional investors and proxy firms due to their perceived hindrance to potential deals.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona
The prevalence of activist investors in the market necessitates companies, especially in the restaurant sector like Jack in the Box, to consider having poison pills readily available as a defense mechanism. While not universally welcomed, these tools offer essential protection in an increasingly volatile market, allowing boards to navigate challenges and prioritize sustainable corporate growth.