Activist investor Nelson Peltz’s hedge fund said it was “open-minded” about keeping DuPont together, after agitating for months to break up the chemical conglomerate.
Trian Fund Management detailed the change in strategy on Wednesday, while urging DuPont (DD) shareholders to vote Nelson Peltz and three other nominees to the board.
“Trian does not see this election as a referendum on separating the businesses, but rather a referendum on DuPont’s financial performance,” the fund said in a letter to DuPont shareholders.
Trian, which owns a 2.68% stake in DuPont, has criticized DuPont for failing to meet its own earnings and revenue targets.
“While Trian advocates a separation as a means to improving performance, Trian nominees are open-minded to keeping the portfolio together if performance can be improved,” the fund wrote in a White Paper published on Wednesday.
The fund had urged DuPont to separate its agriculture, nutrition and health, and industrial biosciences divisions from its volatile but strong cash flow-generating materials businesses.
DuPont, which is spinning off its performance chemicals business, had repeatedly rebuffed Trian’s demand.
The hedge fund’s proxy battle for board seats comes days after DuPont named two of its own nominees as directors.
DuPont said last week that it would have considered a Trian nominee if the fund had agreed to withdraw its slate of nominees, but Trian had insisted on a board seat for Peltz.