Jeff Lawson CEO, Twilio
Scott Mlyn | CNBC
Cloud software program developer Twilio has hired Qatalyst Partners, the funding financial institution based by Frank Quattrone, to advise on its defense against a group of activist buyers, in accordance to two individuals with data of the matter.
Qatalyst, which beforehand suggested Segment when Twilio purchased it for $3.2 billion in 2020, has been working on the activist matter for months, one of many the individuals stated. Qatalyst launched an activist observe the identical yr because the Segment deal. While Qatalyst has usually labored to assist corporations promote themselves, this task is concentrated on the activist defense state of affairs, stated these individuals.
Both sources requested not to be named due to confidentiality. Twilio’s expertise makes it simpler for corporations to talk with prospects and staff by way of cell gadgets.
Twilio shares slipped as a lot as 1.8% in Wednesday morning buying and selling, earlier than paring again losses.
Legion Partners, an activist agency based mostly in Los Angeles, took a stake in Twilio earlier this yr and started pushing the corporate to overhaul its board and technique. Legion’s engagement was led by Sagar Gupta, who left the agency in October for Anson Funds, the place he amassed the same stake.
Twilio shares have gained 45% this yr, however that follows a depressing 2022, throughout which the corporate misplaced greater than 80% of its worth. The inventory is 84% off its report reached in early 2021. Annual income progress slipped to simply 5% in the most recent quarter down from over 30% in the identical interval final yr and over 60% within the third quarter of 2021.
The activist teams have advised Twilio it ought to no less than promote an underperforming unit, its knowledge and purposes enterprise, which incorporates Segment. Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson, who co-founded the corporate in 2008, stated final week that the corporate would lay off 5% of its employees, with the deepest cuts inside the info and purposes unit.
The downsizing adopted a company reorganization earlier this yr that included layoffs amounting to 17% of Twilio’s employees.
Qatalyst is finest recognized for its mergers and acquisitions observe reasonably than shareholder defense. One of the individuals aware of the matter stated the financial institution’s present involvement with Twilio will not be a precursor to a sale of the corporate.
A spokesperson for Twilio declined to remark. Qatalyst didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Qatalyst was based in 2008 by Quattrone, who stepped down as CEO in 2016 however stays government chairman. The agency has suggested on a few of Silicon Valley’s largest current offers, together with Microsoft’s $28.1 billion acquisition of LinkedIn, Salesforce’s $29.2 billion buy of Slack and Block’s $22 billion acquisition of Afterpay. Qatalyst additionally labored on Cisco’s pending $29.6 billion acquisition of Splunk and Adobe’s buy of Figma, which is awaiting regulatory clearance.
Qatalyst’s activist observe is helmed by Peter Michelsen, who was hired in June 2020 from Goldman Sachs‘ activist advisory group. Michelsen says on his LinkedIn page that he advises “Qatalyst’s shoppers throughout all expertise sectors on issues together with activism defense, proxy fights, contested conditions, defense preparedness and complicated ESG issues.” ESG stands for environmental, social and company governance.
— CNBC’s Alex Sherman contributed to this report.
WATCH: Twilio CEO says company is focused on customers, not competitors