proxy fight

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusinessfinance

   A struggle by a group of shareholders to win enough votes to change a company's board or management.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a proxy fight' or 'proxy fights'.

   Patterns

   • a proxy fight over something
   • a proxy fight against someone
   • win/lose a proxy fight

   The hedge fund started a proxy fight to replace three directors.

   After a long proxy fight, the CEO agreed to step down.

   Shareholders often avoid a proxy fight because it is expensive and public.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   Any public battle in which one side tries to persuade others to vote against the current leaders.

   Grammar: Used beyond business for political or organizational votes.

   Patterns

   • a proxy fight for control of something

   The union election turned into a proxy fight between two factions.

   They described the party leadership vote as a proxy fight over the future direction.

Word forms

Common combinations

launch a proxy fight

The activist investor launched a proxy fight in May.

a bitter proxy fight

The company survived a bitter proxy fight last year.

a proxy fight over board seats

They are in a proxy fight over two board seats.

settle a proxy fight

The two sides settled the proxy fight before the annual meeting.

Synonyms and how they differ

takeover battle

A takeover battle is usually about buying the company, while a proxy fight is about winning votes.

proxy contest

Proxy contest is a close synonym, often used in legal and financial writing.

Word family

proxy noun

A person or document that lets someone vote or act for another.

proxy statement noun

A document a company sends shareholders before a vote.

Commonly confused: proxy fight or proxy war?

Practice

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