Relational Investors LLC, the flagship firm of Ralph Whitworth, recently disclosed its stake at SPX Corp. This is but another investment by the firm into an industrial company and has urged SPX to divest assets holdings and improve its acquisition strategies.
The stake is 8.76% and this makes Relational the second largest shareholder after another investment firm BlackRock Inc. Other investments undertaken by Relational since 2012 are Timken Co and Illinois Tool Works. In both stake purchases, Relational has recommended plans of action, such as Timken spinning off its steel unit while Illinois was urged to change some of its inefficient processes.
With the purchase, SPX increased its share price to US$81.76, rising by 14 percent on period ending Feb 22.
SPX is in the business of manufacturing industrial equipment who late last year sought to purchase rival Gardner Denver Inc. SPX shareholders declined to make the deal saying the growth at any cost strategy is not healthy for the firm in the long run.
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