Salesforce logo sign on Salesforce tower building exterior, Manhattan, New York. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Multiple activist investors have taken stakes in Salesforce, according to reports from several outlets. The investments have spurred speculation that the tech firm could soon face additional pressure to increase margins and trim payrolls.
Elliott Investment Management has bought a multi-billion-dollar position in Salesforce, per the Wall Street Journal, and Inclusive Capital has also taken a stake, per CNBC.
"We look forward to working constructively with Salesforce to realize the value befitting a company of its stature," tweeted Jesse Cohn, managing partner at Elliott.
Activist investors have taken aim at Big Tech before, sometimes with the goal of overhauling operations or replacing well-established leaders.
Cohn specifically has some experience serving on the boards of tech companies, including eBay, Twitter, and Citrix.
Salesforce is already trying to streamline its operations after growing too quickly earlier in the pandemic. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to lay off 10 percent of its workforce, or about 700 employees, and reduce its office footprint.
Since then, several other tech giants have made similar cuts, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google parent Alphabet.
Shares of Salesforce were up around 3 percent following the news reports.
Chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly report that could provide a better sense of whether the stock market has been riding an overhyped artificial intelligence bubble or is being propelled by a technological boom that’s still gathering momentum.
Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence.
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