financetom
Business
financetom
/
Business
/
Activist Elliott meets BP investors to discuss more changes, sources say
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Activist Elliott meets BP investors to discuss more changes, sources say
Mar 21, 2025 4:20 AM

(Reuters) - Activist investor Elliott Management has met several large shareholders in BP to try to forge a consensus for more changes at the oil major that could include cost cuts and a potential leadership reshuffle, two shareholders told Reuters.

BP stock has underperformed rivals Shell and Exxon in the last five years, which investors have blamed in part on the company's 2020 plan to focus on growing its renewable business while cutting oil and gas production.

Having watered down that plan, BP accelerated its pivot back to hydrocarbons in a strategy revamp last month.

But the two shareholders, who attended separate meetings with Elliott, said both they and Elliott wanted deeper change. Elliott declined to comment. It has a near 5% stake in BP, a source previously told Reuters.

A BP spokesperson said that executives had met investors holding nearly half of the company's shares, and approaching 75% of institutional investors, since it announced the new strategy on February 26.

"We have received widespread support for BP's reset strategy and the changes laid out," the spokesperson said. "The consistent message also received is that our focus should be on delivery - executing the strategy and hitting our targets. That is our priority."

Pressure for reform mounted after Elliott, which has led campaigns for change at companies including Marathon Petroleum ( MPC ), Hess and Honeywell ( HON ), became one BP's largest shareholders.

Elliott and investors discussed potential changes to BP's board and management team, and a reduction of annual spending to below $13 billion, the two shareholders said.

For now, BP aims to spend $13-$15 billion annually and cut costs by $4-$5 billion through 2027.

One of the shareholders said BP could be more ambitious on asset sales.

Elliott would like BP to sell a significant part of its petrol station network and eventually completely exit from renewable power generation, a person familiar with the situation said.

BP told investors it would divest $20 billion of assets by 2027. The company said it would increase oil and gas spending, slash investments in renewables, and cut net debt to $14-$18 billion by the end of 2027 from around $23 billion currently.

Shareholders will vote on whether to re-elect BP's board, including chairman Helge Lund and CEO Murray Auchincloss, at the company's AGM on April 17.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Suzlon's S144–3 MW wind turbines get big boost from Indian government
Suzlon's S144–3 MW wind turbines get big boost from Indian government
Nov 15, 2023
Th Suzlon wind turbines received the RLMM (Revised List of Models & Manufacturers) listing from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, marking an important milestone for the successful commercialisation of the product. Shares of Suzlon Energy Ltd ended at ₹40.49, up by ₹1.85, or 4.79%, on the BSE.
Tata Power Renewable Energy wins 200-MW project in collaboration with SJVN
Tata Power Renewable Energy wins 200-MW project in collaboration with SJVN
Nov 28, 2023
The firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project, designed with a hybrid of solar, wind, and battery storage, is aimed at providing a stable and dispatchable energy supply during peak hours. Shares of Tata Power Company Ltd ended at ₹270.75, up by ₹12.60, or 4.88%, on the BSE.
This sustainable jewellery brand is luring some women away from gold
This sustainable jewellery brand is luring some women away from gold
Oct 30, 2023
Aulerth's offerings range from ₹5,000 to as high as ₹2.8 lakh. Are women willing to spend this much on jewellery made from scrap? Founder and CEO Vivek Ramabhadran definitely believes so. Aulerth produces couture-inspired pieces in association with designers like JJ Valaya, Suneet Varma, among others. It has reported 33% repeat customers in the past year and expects a spike to 40% soon.
SJVN secures 200-MW wind power project at ₹3.24 per unit
SJVN secures 200-MW wind power project at ₹3.24 per unit
Nov 16, 2023
Projected to generate 482 million units in its inaugural year post-commissioning, the cumulative energy generation over a 25-year span is anticipated to reach 12,050 million units. Shares of SJVN Ltd ended at ₹75.17, down by ₹0.50, or 0.66%, on the BSE.
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved