An activist investor’s successful corporate governance and strategic management impacts: An updated L Brands case study

Abstract

The key research aim of this paper is to analyze whether an activist investor’s recommendations for financial, corporate governance, and strategic management performances were successful or not. This paper updates the initial case study of the activist investor, Barington Capital Group, in analyzing the performance of a public company, L Brands, which had lost $20 billion in market capitalization in the last three years prior to the public letter from Barington to the L Brands CEO in March 2019. This updated case study analyzes whether Barington’s initial recommendations worked as operational guidelines for improving L Brands’ financial, corporate governance, and strategic management performances. From its financial analysis, Barington recommended either an initial public offering of the superior performing Bath & Body Works brand or a spinoff of the weak performing Victoria’s Secret brand. From its corporate governance and strategic management analysis, Barington recommended that L Brands improve the composition of its board of directors whose deficiencies in director independence, industry experience, and diversity hindered its ability to effectively oversee and advise strategic management. It is important to note that this paper was prepared exclusively with public information.